Sphalerite (gemmy crystals)

Item Description

Some of the finest specimens of crystallized Sphalerite in the modern era of mineral colleting are those from the Shuikoushan Ore Field. The crystals on these specimens exhibit some of the most highly lustrous, gemmy crystals with intense glowing warm hues, which that instantly made them exceptionally popular when they started making their way to the market in the early 2000s. Today the are much harder to find for sale, and it seems that they have dried up in recent years. This is a beautiful cabinet display specimen featuring superb, sharp, lustrous, very gemmy complex Sphalerite crystals and crystal groups sitting on a layer of white sugary Quartz sitting with prismatic, translucent pale golden Calcite crystals and more blocky trigonal Calcites on matrix. The Sphalerites are gorgeous in person and explode with rich reddish color when backlit. There are Sphalerites on both sides of the piece, beautiful all over. Overall, the piece is in remarkably good condition as virtually all of the major of the Sphalerite groups are undamaged. The largest Sphalerite measures 8 mm across. This is a fine specimen of this high quality material that didn't get enough attention when they were available, but are now sought after by collectors for their excellent color, quality and gemminess of the Sphalerites.