Tennantite Subgroup (fine crystals)

Item Description

For a long time, Tennantite was a valid species, but it has in recent years been broken into six recognized species (Tennantite-(Cd) Tennantite-(Cu) Tennantite-(Fe) Tennantite-(Hg) Tennantite-(Ni) Tennantite-(Zn) ). For the purposes of this listing, we're calling this specimen "Tennantite Subgroup" or simply "Tennantite", and if you look on mindat.org, you'll see specimens listed under the Tennantite Subgroup heading, as specific species cannot be determined visually. Certainly, the Tennantite specimens from the famed Tsumeb Mine are unquestionably among the best examples of Tennantite in the world. The finest specimens are truly exemplary for the species, showing superbly well-formed, sharp crystals, often of larger than average size. This piece is a sculptural miniature display specimen featuring a handful of sharp, well-formed, tetrahedral, dark grey colored crystals of Tennantite measuring 2.7 cm on edge associated with small Quartz prisms. I can see a few small contacts, but the piece is largely undamaged. A very attractive example of this classic material from arguably the world's greatest mineral locality.
From the collection of Brian Kosnar.