Sphalerite (GEMMY crystals) with Baryte

Item Description

Here we have a rarely se\en specimen of the beautiful Sphalerite from the well-known Manuelita Mine in Peru. This piece features many VERY GEMMY, rich honey-orange colored modified crystal groups of Sphalerite - with the largest composite gropu measuring up to 1.3 cm across associated with thin white blades of Baryte sitting on a lyaer of tan Siderite on matrix. For reference, I'm calling the tan mineral Siderite based upon appearance, but I've seen some of these labeled as Rhodochrosite, and since the two species form a series, it's possible that this is iron-bearing Rhodochrosite based upon the chemistry, but I wanted to play it safe. The high glassy luster and optic clarity of the Sphalerites if fantastic. No major damage that I can find to the Sphalerites, but some of the Baryte blades are broken . The piece displays beautifully as you can see.
This piece is from the personal collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar, the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado (1946-2007). Rich was the namesake for the rare zirconium phosphate mineral, Kosnarite.