Sphalerite: Shuikoushan Mine, Changning Co., Hengyang, Hunan, China

Description

Species: Sphalerite, Calcite

Locality: Shuikoushan Mine, in Changning Co., Hengyang, Hunan, China

Dimensions: 14.5 x 9 x 7.5 cm.

RESERVED

This is a wonderful gemmy sphalerite specimen from the classic Shuikoushan Mine, in Changning Co., Hengyang, Hunan, China. These fine sphalerites first started showing up in the West around twenty years ago now, but good-quality examples with larger crystals haven’t been found in recent years. These new specimens feature large, lustrous, gemmy honey-red to orange crystals on contrasting calcite crystal and limestone matrix. I particularly like this large cabinet-size example (14.5 cm.) featuring gemmy, isolated 3.5 cm. single crystal in a pocket. The aesthetics are super and the isolation of the large (for the locality) and quite gemmy single crystal nestled in a pocket by itself is just lovely. Laszlo Kupi photo.