Pyromorphite (old classic material)

Item Description

A classic specimen of these old classic Pyromorphites from what historically was referred to as "Bad Ems", but it's actually about 5 km away from the mine itself. You will see the name "Bad Ems" on many old labels, and even modern labels, but if you view the listing for the locality on mindat.org, the name Bad Ems isn't even included anymore. With that said, the finest specimens from this locality are certainly in the highest echelon of Pyromorphites on a worldwide scale as they are some of the most well-known and celebrated examples of the species ever found. Many people think that the Friedrichssegen Mine is the type locality for Pyromorphite, but it's actually the lesser known Zschopau area in Saxony where the species was first discovered. This piece is at least 100 years old, and the earliest reports of the mine that I can find date back to the 1860s, so the piece could well be over 150 years old. This piece is loaded with excellent, sharp, lustrous light smoky-brown to pinkish-brown colored hexagonal prismatic crystals, with the largest composite crystal group measuring about 1.1 cm forming a three-dimensional specimen. The specimen is crystallized all around, with no matrix, but there are some obvious points of contact, so it's not pristine. One side of the piece has some orange-brown iron staining, creating a lovely contrast of color. These piece are few and far between on the market now, and are treasured as some of the most beloved Pyromorphites from Europe. The piece comes with an old label from Walt Lidstrom, dating back 50± years.