Pyrrhotite

A naturally etched, vuggy and somewhat spiky matrix of grey and cream Calcite with clustered groupings of well formed bronze Pyrrhotite crystals, from Samson mine in the St. Andreasberg mining district of Lower Saxony, Germany.  The crystals form thin hexagonal plates in stacked groups, the largest crystal attaining 4 mm.  Hexagonal habits include gently rounded edges to sharp, perfect hexagons, all having a dull, yet slightly silky sub-metallic lustre.

Ex. the Mineral Collection of Archduke Stephan Franz Viktor of Hungary (1817 to 1867), with a historic Archduke (Erzherzog) Stephan label incorporating his coat of arms.  This smaller label measures 8.6 x 4.8 cm; it is complete (untrimmed) and is numbered 453/15, with this same number glued to the specimen’s base together with a Carl Rumpff label, dated 1889.  This smaller sized Archduke label is in good condition, with a little light foxing and three vertical creases.