large Tetrahedrite group, old Peruvian classic(Chet Lemanski Coll.)

Item Description

This spectacular large plate is covered entirely by splendent, sharp, dark steel-gray to black tetraherite crystals, of a historic style for the species from this famous Peruvian mine. The textbook striated tetrahedral crystals reach 2.5 cm. The spray of small quartz points in the center is a nice accent. gernally in great shape - a small bit of noted bruising and periphery wear is certainly only a modest detraction to this very rich and showy piece. The underlying matrix on this hefty ore specimen is pyrite and sphalerite. The polymetalllic Casapalca Mine intermittently produced very fine tetrahedrite specimens in the 1970s and again in the late 1990s. See the 1997 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 28, No. 4 and the Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 34, No. 3. Ex Chet Lemanski Collection and acquired in 2004. A very rich and excellent large example of the species and locale. Hefty ore at 1976 grams or 4.4 pounds mass.