Bournonite with Quartz and Pyrite (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

This piece comes with an old label originally stating that it was an "Argentite" from Jachymov in the Czech Republic. The corrections on Kay's personal label state that it is indeed a Bournonite and is most likely from Peru or the Noche Buena Mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. I've seen enough of these to firmly believe it's from Noche Buena. With that said, the piece hosts a prismatic group of lustrous, silvery Bournonites measuring 1.1 cm long with soft golden metallic Pyrite and accenting Quartz crystals. Minor Arsenopyrite is said to be on the specimen as well, but I had a hard time spotting it. Very hard to find on the market, and a great combo piece to add to a sulfide / sulfosalt suite or a Mexican mineral collection. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#8983). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).