Siderite on Pyrite with Stannite

Siete Suyos mine, Atocha-Quechisla District, Sud Chichas Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia
Small Cabinet, 5.8 x 4.4 x 3.6 cm
Start Time: 12/03/2009 6:45:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 12/10/2009 6:54:06 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

The Siete Suyos mine (Seven Servants mine) is sometimes considered to be part of the Animas mine, and it is often difficult to know where specimens are from because several mines in the area share the same vein system. The good news is that I directly obtained this specimen from the miner who collected it, so I know for certain where it came from. I honestly have never seen any specimens from this locality before, but I was happy to purchase the pieces I obtained. This piece features several excellent quality, sharp, gemmy, greenish-brown crystals of Siderite which are sitting upon an unusual crystal of lustrous Pyrite (possibly a pseudomorph after Siderite) which are associated with minor grey crystals of the rare sulfide, Stannite. The largest Siderite crystal group measures 2.7 cm across. For Siderite, the quality is impressive for Bolivia, as I rarely have seen such sharp and gemmy crystals from any Bolivian locality. So far, this find was very limited, so if you're a collector of Bolivian minerals, be sure to pick this one up.

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