Sphalerite (GEMMY crystals) with Calcite on Quartz (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

Some of the finest specimens of Sphalerite in the modern era of mineral colleting are those from the Shuikoushan Mine. These crystals exhibit some of the most highly lustrous, gemmy crystals with intense glowing warm hues that instantly made them exceptionally popular when they started making their way to the market in the early 2000s. Today they have all but disappeared from the market it seems. This piece is a beautiful small cabinet display specimen featuring superb, sharp, lustrous, very gemmy Sphalerite crystals associated with compressed "disc"-like crystals of white Calcite sitting on a layer of white sugary Quartz sitting on reddish colored matrix. The Sphalerites are gorgeous in person and explode with rich fiery color when backlit, to the point where you might mistake them for Garnets. Overall, the piece is in remarkably good condition as virtually all of the major of the Sphalerite are undamaged, but there are a few minor imperfections that can be seen with magnification. The largest crystals measures 8 mm across. This is a wonderful 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. Priced at $750 in the inventory.