Chalcopyrite on Dolomite (new find)

Item Description

RARE! Stunning, sharp, brilliant iridescent golden and magenta chalcopyrite sphenoids are dramatically and richly clustered on the sculptural large 3-dimensional matrix of sections of translucent, off-white to gray dolomite rhombohedrons on this exceptional piece from Shanxi, China. The gorgeous large prisms reach 2.8 cm. All of the many chalcopyrites in the interior are pristine and the bit of periphery wear at the bottom has negligible impact to the remarkable quality and color of this impressive piece. Although there are no photos of ANY mineral species shown in MINDAT from this ancient copper mining area, starting around 2000 BC., Mining is documented into the modern era and now also produces molybdenum, cobalt and nickel ores. Specimens have been coming to the market for a few years mislabelled as from other locales. 1818 grams or 4.0 pounds mass. An outstanding and RARE specimen from the obscure ancient locale, because of the size of the large chalcopyrite crystal - most of the hundreds (or thousands) of specimens produced had small chalcopyrite and this is a big, dramatic example on a big and dramatic specimen.