Gratonite (circa 1950s) Ed Swoboda Coll.

Item Description

Gratonite is a rare Pb-As sulfosalt. Crystals are uncommon, with the very best of the species easily coming from the Type Locality area of the Cerro de Pasco. This is a very fine radiating minature plate of lustrous, metallic-gray, sharp to euhedral crystals to 1.3 cm. The species was discovered in 1939 and most of the best examples were recovered in the 1950s. Some bruising is noted, but is certainly acceptable in the context of this rarity. This very fine and showy example was formerly in the Ed Swoboda Collection. Valued at $1000.