Pyrite ''sun'' (''floater'')

Item Description

This is a wonderful classic specimen of the famous Pyrite "suns" (sometimes they're called Pyrite "dollars" in reference to sand dollars) from Sparta, Illinois. These pieces have such a distinctive form, they are easily recognizable. 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. This particular specimen is a great "floater" thumbnail, which in my experience is not terribly common as most of the "suns" are bigger than thumbnails, so it's not easy to find such a pristine example in this size range.
From the collection of Jim Houran.