large Orpiment with Baryte and Realgar

Item Description

Colorful and most impressive large combination from the famous Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au Quiruvilca Mine of Peru. Rich burnt orange and yellow bubbly Orpiment botryoids cover the 3-dimensional, undulating specimen and are dramatically accented by starkly contrasting, scattered, stout, upright, very glassy, transparent to translucent, tabular baryte spearpoints, to 2.8 cm on edge. Scattered translucent, cherry-red Realgar prisms, to 8 mm, are a typical accessory and fine complement. The interior is pristine and the noted periphery wear is certainly acceptable in the context of this large specimen. The underlying matrix is strikingly brecciated. See the 1997 Mineralogical Record Mines and Minerals of Peru issue, Vol. 28, No.4. 2435 grams or 5.4 pounds mass. Ex Bob Reynolds Collection. He was the curator of the San Bernardino Museum and a well-known California field collector. Material of this combination quality was recovered in the 1970s to early 1980s and this is a classic, striking and excellent large combination example.