Native Arsenic on Hubnerite with Quartz

Item Description

This was one surprise in the Hefendehl collection, where something is totally different after close inspection compared to initial view. We thought this was "just" a world class size of hubnerite crystal. However, the association is even more interesting! It is a wonderful specimen of the classic Hubnerites from the famous Pasto Bueno area in Peru. This location has produced some of the worlds best examples of the species. Here is an extremely rare mineral combination specimen that is seldom seen or available. It starts with several large, elongated, lustrous, parallel-growth crystals of metallic silver-grey Hubnerite with the main crystals reaching 12.5 cm in length. From the side view one can see the slightly curved crystals forming a fan that is arching backwards over numerous contrasting clear Quartz points. The significantly unique combination is the secondary growth of spherical, grey, botryoidal, rare native Arsenic crystals covering the back and most of the Hubnerite terminations. The front has a much lighter covering (unless of course, you choose to display it for the rich arsenic side as frontal!). The native Arsenic also has a yellow-brown fluorescence (SW). Complete all-around and nearly pristine, with only a couple of the basal sidecar crystals with broken terminations. While the Hubnerite is very robust and thick there are still some minor spots on this specimen where the characteristic blood red color can be seen reflecting in the light. This classic 360-degree specimen is a top shelf worthy piece based on its high quality and rare mineral associations. I have only seen a small handful of these combinations. Ex. Kurt Hefendehl.