Arsenopyrite on Quartz (rare locality specimen) (ex Bill Pinch Collection)

Item Description

This piece is labeled as coming from "Zabytaya, near Dalnegorsk", which is most obviously the Zabytoye Deposit in the Primorsky Krai of Russia. The locality is a greisen deposit, best known for its beautiful blue Topaz crystals. I've never seen a specimen of Arsenopyrite from this locality before, and it's a shame because the quality is superb, so I wish there were more of them available. This fine display quality miniature features several bright, metallic, silvery colored, blocky monoclinic crystals of Arsenopyrite measuring up to 1.5 cm across sitting beautifully on a single, GEMMY, colorless hexagonal prism of Quartz. The piece is in great condition, save the bottom which is contacted where the piece was removed from the pocket. If you collect sulfides or minerals of Russia, this is a must have due to the rare locality. From the collection of Bill Pinch (1940 - 2017) of Rochester, New York. Bill was one of the most accomplished mineral collectors in the world, along with being a noted amateur mineralogist. He had a tremendous knowledge of rare species, especially minerals of Tsumeb, and famously owned the well-known specimen of Andyrobertsite on the cover of the Mineralogical Record. The halide Pinchite was named in his honor, as well as the Pinch Medal, which is issued by the Mineralogical Association of Canada for contributions to the advancement of mineralogy by members of the collector-dealer (non-professional) community.