Potosiite (large crystals!)

San Jose mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia
Small Cabinet, 7.2 x 4.8 x 3.0 cm
Start Time: 05/14/2009 5:15:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 05/21/2009 5:15:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

From the find of 2004, this specimen hosts two of the rarest sulfosalts in the world. This specimen is a very attractive, incredibly rare, superb quality, crystallized specimen of the triclinic lead, antimony, iron, tin sulfosalt Potosiite consisting of several, extremely rare, highly lustrous, heavily striated, tabular blades (some are twinned) of Potosiite measuring up to 9 mm! sitting atop crystallized and the equally rare triclinic lead, tin, iron, antimony sulfosalt Franckeite. For those of you who are unaware, the crystals of Potosiite on this specimen are EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE. Before these new specimens were discovered, some of the largest known crystals of Potosiite were massive, uncrystallized, granules less than 1 mm. in most cases. The crystals on this specimen are NOT micros, you can clearly see them with the naked eye and they are very distinct. These are undoubtedly some of the LARGEST KNOWN POTOSIITE CRYSTALS IN EXISTENCE. Valued at $1500-$1800 Retail.

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