Pyrite

Richly intergrown cubic crystals of light metallic golden Pyrite measuring to 2 cm on edge cover a solid plate of polycrystalline Pyrite from Botés in Alba County, Romania. Some crystals have slightly curved faces while most are faintly striated with a mirror bright, metallic lustre. The striated faces have an appearance, when viewed a foot or so away, of tiny cracks across the cube faces. On close examination with, say, a x5 loupe, these are raised growth features aligned in parallel to the striation foliation and forming fascinating stepped Babel-like elongated mounds with contoured steps. These growth patterns/structures are unusual and superb. A delightful cabinet specimen of bright metallic Pyrite from Romania.