Arsenopyrite with Muscovite (1970s)

Item Description

Rich, showy, nearly solid arsenopyrite specimens directly attributable to the Barroca Grande Mine at famed Panasqueira are rare on the market these days compared to the much more common material from China. This is an old classics from the heyday here of the 1960s-1970s. This impressive and hefty large 360-degree, 3-dimensional mounded specimen features sculpturally intergrown, lustrous, metallic-gray, striated prisms to 4.5 cm. It is weighty, big, and really bright in the hand! The 4.5 cm field of pearlescent, brown, platy muscovite clusters is a typical accessory and fine complement. 985 grams or 2.2 pounds mass. Ex Dr. Vasco Trancoso Collection, a medical doctor and prominent mineral collector from near Lisbon, Portugal (https://www.mindat.org/user-11954.html). He assembled his mineral collection over the course of 60 years, and built a fine worldwide display collection that we recently purchased. An excellent, rich and showy large example from the locale; and from one of the most prominent collections in Portugal built during the time they came out. This is a fabulous example, best conveyed in video perhaps. Valued $1500-2500.