Proustite ex. Smithsonian, Dr. Mark Bandy coll.

Item Description

Proustite from Chile sets the standard for sheer color, and metallic luster, for the species. Specimens were mined generally prior to WWI with a peak in the late 1880s to early 1890s. Large specimens were sent out in particular through one mine engineer to museums around the world. Most larger specimens, such as this, offer a tradeoff of color and richness vs. perfection. Here, we have massive, fat, gemmy crystals, but many of them are contacted or damaged, thus reducing the specimens value from something like $50,000 if perfect to a more reasonable $3-5k estimated value range. Nevertheless, I could pretty much assure you that a larger, more flashy, more gemmy proustite in this size and price range could not easily be found for sale. They are few and far between in ANY size and in ANY condition, and usually are far uglier to look at, as well. This piece, if you see the label here, seems to have been obtained in South America by the legendary mineralogist Dr. Mark Bandy, who helped develop modern Bolivia's mining resources and was particularly important in obtaining and preserving mineralogical samples from the region. Although his collection resides in Los Angles County Museum today, it seems he donated or traded this piece to the Smithsonian Institution. Attributed Bandy specimens are uncommon on the resale market, as most are safely ensconced in LA now. This piece, thus, has a great pedigree value to it as a bonus. NOTE: Substantial mass at 269 grams!