Pyrite ''Sun'' (ex Dr. Barratt Phillips Collection)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful and classic specimen of the famous Pyrite "suns" (sometimes they're called Pyrite "dollars" in reference to sand dollars) from Sparta, Illinois. This is obviously not the typical form you'd expect for Pyrite, as they are highly compressed / flattened with the central radial "burst". These Pyrites are found frozen between layers of shale a few inches above the coal seam in the roof of coal mines around Sparta. The weight of the sediments caused the Pyrites to grow "out" as opposed to equally in all directions, like a cube. These specimens have made their way into rock shops and collections around the world. This piece is notably different from most others you'll see from this area as it's not just a single flat "sun", but the central area is actually raised up a bit, giving the piece a bit of three dimensional structure. It certainly stands out from the majority of the pieces that you'll encounter because of the unusual shape. I value this one more highly than most due to its unique form. From the collection of Dr. Barratt Phillips.