Tetrahedrite with Chalcopyrite, Ex. Rock Currier

Item Description

This specimen is part of the 2020 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium benefit auction, with proceeds benefiting Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, and mindat.org. Thanks to all of our participants!

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, August 24, for payment using PayPal or credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost, or please contact brandy@mineralauctions.com if you'd like to plan on picking up items at future shows or during a stop through Dallas.

Click here for a video of this specimen!

The luster on this dramatic small cabinet piece is brilliantly shiny and smooth. The large, sharp, unusually well-separated crystals measure to 3 cm standing, and have sharp and complex terminations that are mesmerizing, the closer you look at the patterning and bevels of the faces. The two important crystals at top and center crystal, are both pristine. The rightmost of the three large crystals has minor edge wear, and is secondary in any case off to the right and the edge of the piece. The brilliant luster of the tetrahedrite stands out and is accented by the sparkly quartz at the base but also by tiny microcrystals of chalcopyrite cemented into tiny grooves in the faces of the tetrahedrite crystals. This gives tiny flecks of golden sparkle, on top of the metallic silver color, and really makes the piece "pop" in a subtle and unusual way (scroll to see the many photos). It is a superb display small cabinet specimen, brought back by Rock from one of his many trips to Peru. Photo by Jingnan Zhang.
Donated by The Rock Currier Collection (Jewel Tunnel Inc.). Valued $2500