Pyrrhotite on Sphalerite

Item Description

A classic Pyrrhotite specimens from Dalnegorsk featuring sharp, well-formed, dark bronze colored, metallic pseudo-hexagonal crystals measuring up to 1.6 cm on jet-black Sphalerite matrix. Most of the crystals are complete an undamaged, though there are few contacted areas, and it's obviously not complete around the periphery where it was removed from the pocket wall. These specimens are some of the finest examples of Pyrrhotite in the world, and they seem to be dwindling on market, as I don't recall anything of note coming out in many years. They deserve more attention from collectors for their quality, but the numerous specimens on the market diminished their initial value. Now that they're drying up, they are more than likely going to increase in desirability and price. 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".