Pyrite (RARE locality specimen) (ex Dave Bergman Collection)

Item Description

There are many localities in Colorado for Pyrite, but this piece is from the South Mineral Creek area (near the Bandora Mine), which is a notably rare locale for the species. We've only had one other specimen of this material to offer in the auctions. Many sharp, lustrous, light golden metallic crystals of Pyrite measuring up to 1.1 cm across are sitting on matrix. The habit of the crystals is a combination of pyritohedrons, octahedrons and cubes, with the striations showing predominantly on the pyritohedral faces and the cube and octahedral faces are rather smooth. Very little damage, though there is a bit of roughness in a few spots. Overall it's an attractive and desirable piece from the San Juan Mountains, and would certainly make a great addition to any collection of Pyrites or minerals from Colorado. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".