Bournonite with Stannite and Quartz

Item Description

In the modern era of mineral collecting, there are really only a few localities around the world that have produced excellent Bournonite crystals. You can go back to the old classics from the Herodsfoot Mine in Cornwall which are considered the best from any locality in Europe, but they were found in the 1800s and are rare on the market. The more modern discoveries from the Machacamarca District in Bolivia certainly are in the top ranks, but the Yaogangxian Mine in China are without a doubt the finest contemporary Bournonites on the market. The size, quality and superb crystallization of the best Yaogangxian specimens is exemplary. This piece is a lovely small cabinet sized example featuring silvery, metallic, striated prismatic crystals of Bournonite measuring up to 2.1 cm which are associated with light golden-brassy metallic crystals of Stannite and a few gemmy, colorless prismatic Quartz crystals (some of which show slight internal "phantoms") on matrix. No major damage and the piece displays quite well as you can see. Valued $950
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#237 C), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection through our various platforms.