Pyromorphite

An elegant, long and narrow specimen displaying excellent lime green Pyromorphite crystals to 9 mm, forming a stacked intergrown habit over a flat rib of pink tinted Quartz. The stunning specimen is from the San Andres mine at Espiel, Andalusia, in southern central Spain. Although having been worked since before 1950, the mine began producing good Pyromorphite specimens between 1980 and 1985. The mine then closed and collectors re-entered the now dangerous, heavily collapsed zones to extract the best Pyromorphite yet know. The crystals form regular hexagonal prisms which are generally double terminated and relatively squat and stubby. They have good translucency and a superb, bright reflective glassy lustre. Spain has produced many first class Pyromorphite localities and this magnificent small cabinet specimen will make a striking display piece.