Chalcopyrite (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

This piece is accompanied by a label that states it is from the "La Ranita Mine" (little frog) in Chihuahua, Mexico. I cannot find a listing for this mine in any database, the only reference I can find is a place called La Ranita in the state of Sonora, Mexico. It's possible that this piece might be from the Bufa Mine or the Naica Mine, but it's difficult to say. If anybody out there has some information as to where this piece specifically might be from, please let us know. With that said, this small cabinet features several fine quality, sharp, well-formed, lustrous, rich golden colored metallic crystals of Chalcopyrite measuring up to 2.1 cm long sitting on a matrix of mostly massive black Sphalerite, with a bit of associated lead grey Galena and white Quartz on the back. The piece is in excellent shape, with no major damage that I can see, outside of the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. Honestly, I think my favorite aspect of the piece are the beautiful defined striations on the Chalcopyrite crystals, which give them character and an "other worldly" effect.