Pyrite (classic material)

Item Description

The Eagle Mine near the now ghost town of Gilman, Colorado is probably best-known among mineral collectors for its excellent pyritohedral Pyrite specimens. The size, quality, sharpness and luster seen in the top specimens is about as good as any Pyrites from any mine in Colorado. This miniature sized specimen is a great display piece of this classic material showing typical, yet fine quality pyritohedra with sharp, lustrous faces. The largest crystal measures 2.1 cm across, sitting proudly atop the specimen, and the piece is in excellent condition overall. A very nice showy example of this well-known material from this now defunct locality.
This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".