Pyrite (Meieran Coll.)

Item Description

This massive pyrite octahedral crystal from Peru sits on a COMPLETE FLOATING PLATE of intergrown pyrites, not a broken shard or chopped up matrix as you so often see. This is why it is in the Meieran collection, and he has kept it since the 1980s-1990s when he built a large suite of metallic species. The crystal is typical in style form old Peruvian material BUT huge, pristine, and on a floater specimen with no damage or contacts! THAT is what makes it unusual, and raises it a level of play. Anybody can sell you big damaged pyrite crystals. But, pristine octahedral crystals of this old classic style, to 7 cm on edge, just do not turn up very often. And, certainly, this is not a modern style (modern production is either cubic or sharp, smaller octahedra). This large, museum-sized display piece masses 1700 grams, or about 3.75 pounds in weight. It is from the noted collection of Gene Meieran. He sold off his metallic suites and worldwide species suites decades ago, in general, and this is one of the few that were kept longer. It is valued $7500-8500.