FLUORITE with GEOCRONITE and PYRITE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

Wow! Sometimes the combination of aethestics and rarity can hit just the right spot, and I feel that this is the case here with this small cabinet specimen. Milpo mine in the remote Atacocha mining district in Peru has recently come to the attention of mineral collectors because of the beautiful vibrant green Fluorite crystals many of which are cubo-octahedral in form and associated with golden Pyrite. Some spectacularly beautiful specimens have been recovered, but occasionally there are crystals of sulphides and rare sulphosalts in association too. One of these is Geocronite, an exceptionally rare lead antimony sulphide which forms a solid-solution series with Jordanite - lead arsenic sulphide. Infact, analytical data published online shows that the Milpo mine sulphosalt straddles the mid-series boundary, with both Geocronite and Jordanite compositions. Most known Geocronite-Jordanite occurrences are limited to crystals to several mm in length, but this stunning specimen hosts at least 9, really well formed, classic, tapering crystals with parallel growth lines. The largest is a phenomenal 1 cm in length, but all all highly visible. If this wasn't good enough, they sit upon a sculptural sparkling Quartz-Pyrite matrix, the Pyrite forming bright metallic pyritohedron crystals liberally coating the white Quartz like glitter. Then, how could I forget the Fluorite: a single 3.5 cm wide, perfect cubo-octahedral crystal, green in colour and translucent, meaning that it glows when back lit. This crystal is magnificent, but has a small contact mark on one side. This is barely visible as the shape of the crystal still looks perfect. A stunning Milpo mine specimen, sure to attract attention.