Pyrite on Red Quartz (rare combination piece!)

Item Description

Red Quartz, colored by tiny inclusions of iron, is one of the most famous and unique finds from the Dalnegorsk mines, and frankly is really distinct in the world of quartz, period. These were seen generally in the time from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, and few have been found since. This is an early piece that was in the collection of Victor Yount by the late 1990s, and that is where Fran purchased it at the time as a big flat (and colorful, yet boring) plate which we sent to the lab and trimmed for him, to center the pyrite at the top of the newly trimmed-out specimen which remained one of Fran's favorite pieces in the collection, in his core suite of Dalnegorsk Minerals (and, never for sale or trade). The entire display face is pristine, and gorgeous. Damage was picked away around the edges and only a simple cleaning was done, which could certainly improve with today's cleaning technology compared to 20 years ago. While I have seen many, perhaps hundreds, of Dalnegorsk red quartz, I have NEVER seen such a fine specimen of this material in association with the pyrite. And, the pyrite here is good....very good! The pyrite is incredibly lustrous and sharp, with a wonderful bright patina, and crystals to 2.5 cm. The cluster as a whole measures 7 am along the longest diagonal of pyrite crystals. The contrast of both color and texture of the two species is striking, and perhaps unique. This specimen was valued in the estate at north of $10,000, and I think fairly so. You will not find another, and it is a particularly rare combination from a time and a place.