Cubanite with Tetrahedrite (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

A very hard to find association specimen from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in France. This area is not just the site of the great mineral show, it was a productive mining town for many years. This specimen was actually labeled as coming from Markirch, which was the old historical name for this area when it was part of Alsace. This piece features tiny epitaxial Cubanite overgrowing Tetrahedrite sitting on Quartz matrix. The crystals are small, micros to be sure, but we've done our best to illustrate them with the close-up lens. Additionally there is a hollow "cast" of the specimen which looks like Quartz replacing Calcite(?), as you can see a well-preserved hexagonal outline and a completely hollow center. These are rarely seen on the market, and certainly a rare combo in the mineral world.
From the collection of Colin Manlove.