| Below is a gallery of Sulfide Group, Sulfosalt
Group, Selenide Group, Telluride Group, Arsenide Group mineral specimens
for sale from John Betts - Fine Minerals in New York City, NY. Included in
this group are Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Galena, Chalcopyrite,
Millerite, Stibnite, Arsenopyrite, Marcasite, Marmatite, Realgar, Orpiment,
Bravoite, Molybdenite, Hauerite, Joseite, Metacinnabar, Greenockite, Chalcocite,
Carrollite, Bornite, Bismuthinite, Cobaltite, Cinnabar, Covellite, Dyscrasite,
Smythite, Wurtzite, Sphalerite, Bournonite, Enargite, Jamesonite, Polybasite,
Proustite, Pyrargyrite, Tennantite, Tetrahedrite. These minerals are
found in many deposits throughout the world including: Mexico, Australia,
Austria, Poland, Peru, Yugoslavia, Kyrgyzstan, Spain, Japan, Canada, Turkey,
Ireland, Brazil, Romania, Italy, Bolivia, Portugal, England, Russia, Serbia,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Kazachstan, China, Czech Republic, Sweden, Namibia,
Republic of Congo (Zaire), Connecticut, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Colorado, Montana, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, New York, Wisconsin, California,
Kentucky, Washington, New Hampshire, Nevada, Massachusetts, Iowa, Tennessee,
Arizona, Kansas, Alaska. To purchase mineral specimens, go to the
Online order form.
Sizes: (t) = Thumbnail, (m) = Miniature, (c) = Cabinet, (lc) = Large
Cabinet
#75253, Bournonite (doubly terminated
crystals), Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $100 |
#75120, Orpiment, El'brusskiy Mine, Russia
(c) $285 |
#75251, Bournonite (doubly terminated
crystals), Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $250 |
#75231, Bournonite (doubly terminated twinned
crystals), Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $325 |
#75235, Bournonite, Quartz, Pyrite,
Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $375 |
#75871, Erythrite on Skutterudite, Bou
Azzer District, Morocco (m) $85 |
#73978, Galena (Spinel Law-twinned) and
Calcite, Casapalca District, Peru (t) $36 |
#73758, Bournonite (cyclic twinned
crystals), Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $150 |
#75287, Calcite (butterfly-twinned crystals)
with Stibnite inclusions, Xikuangshan Mine, China (c) $375 |
#75046, Bournonite (floater crystal),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $150 |
#73948, Pyrargyrite with Quartz and
Calcite, Fresnillo District, Mexico (t) $175 |
#75044, Bournonite (tabular doubly-terminated
crystal), Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $165 |
#75959, Sphalerite, Galena and Pyrite,
Dalnegorsk, Russia (m) $22 |
#75332, Acanthite, Mina la Sirena, Mexico
(t) $115 |
#75492, Acanthite with wire crystals of Native
Silver, Xiaoqinggou, China (m) $165 |
#73965, Sphalerite (Spinel-Law twinned parallel
crystals), Second Sovietskiy Mine, Dalnegorsk, Russia (c) $95 |
#75935, Galena (Spinel Law-twinned), Sphalerite,
Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Dalnegorsk, Russia (c) $150 |
#75249, Bournonite, Yaogangxian Mine,
China (m) $375 |
#73938, Pyrite nodule, ZCA Pierrepont
Mine, New York (t) $25 |
#73762, Acanthite (with iridescent
overgrowth), San Juan de Rayas Mine, Mexico (t) $75 |
#73681, Cinnabar on Dolomite with Quartz,
Fenghuang, Xiangxi, China (c) $150 |
#70597, Acanthite, San Juan de Rayas
Mine, Mexico (t) $28 |
#76427, Sphalerite, Black Jack Mine,
Galena District, Illinois (t) $16 |
#74814, Realgar with Galena, Phlegrean
Volcanic Complex, Italy (t) $25 |
#73392, Sphalerite and Dolomite, Mina
Troya, Mutiloa, Spain (m) $55 |
#73977, Sphalerite on Siderite and Quartz with
Galena, Réalmont, France (c) $30 |
#71851, Quartz, Calcite, Sphalerite,
West Cumberland Iron Mining District, England (c) $175 |
#71870, Sphalerite and Quartz, Shuikoushan
Mine, China (m) $32 |
#75465, Tetrahedrite in Quartz-Barite,
Großkogel Mountain, Austria (m) $95 |
#75234, Acanthite with Native Silver (naturally
occurring silver crystals), Xiaoqinggou, China (m) $225 |
#75319, Millerite in Quartz Geode, US
Route 27 road cut, Halls Gap, Kentucky (t) $30 |
#73401, Sphalerite with Calcite, Siderite and
Pyrite, Dalnegorsk, Russia (c) $175 |
#75331, Acanthite, Xiaoqinggou, China
(t) $35 |
#74690, Sphalerite (lamellar Spinel
Law-twinned), Tri-State Lead-Zinc Mining District, Missouri (m) $38 |
#75335, Stannite, Yaogangxian Mine, China
(t) $100 |
#76048, Pyrite (rare filiform crystals) on
Heulandite, Milepost 41, Oregon Route 224, near Estacada, Oregon
(t) $25 |
#75390, Sphalerite, Galmoy Mine, Ireland
(t) $28 |
#76342, Pyrite, Adelaide Mine, Leadville
District, Colorado (t) $15 |
#75315, Millerite in Quartz Geode, US
Route 27 road cut, Halls Gap, Kentucky (t) $22 |
#75316, Millerite in Quartz Geode, US
Route 27 road cut, Halls Gap, Kentucky (t) $28 |
#73402, Quartz on Bournonite with Chalcopyrite
and Jamesonite-Boulangerite, Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $145 |
#76343, Pyrite, Adelaide Mine, Leadville
District, Colorado (t) $15 |
#76412, Sphalerite, Black Jack Mine,
Galena District, Illinois (m) $15 |
#73049, Galena, Sphalerite, Pyrite, Santa
Eulalia District, Mexico (m) $26 |
#76389, Pyrite, Eagle Mine, Gilman District,
Colorado (c) $55 |
#76659, Pyrite, Huaron District, Peru
(m) $28 |
#72799, Galena on Quartz, Calcite,
Sphalerite, Herja Mine, Baia Mare, Romania (c) $85 |
#76736, Pyrite, Eagle Mine, Gilman District,
Colorado (m) $65 |
#72808, Bournonite, Sphalerite, Boulangerite,
Pyrite, Baia Mare, Romania (c) $75 |
#73383, Franckeite, Mina San José,
Bolivia (c) $225 |
#73968, Pyrite on Hematite, Miniera di
Rio Marina, Isola d'Elba, Italy (m) $125 |
#70849, Pyrite and Quartz, (Tsuchiya-Ishizaki
Mine?), Japan (lc) $550 |
#74751, Chalcopyrite on Fluorite, Seata
Mine, Aysgarth, England (lc) $375 |
#73787, Galena with minor Sphalerite in
marble, Lime Crest Quarry (Limecrest), Sussex Mills, New Jersey
(lc) $55 |
#73319, Pyrite and Calcite, Bull's Ferry
Road condominium construction site, New Jersey (lc) $250 |
#73781, Galena with Sphalerite in marble,
Lime Crest Quarry (Limecrest), Sussex Mills, New Jersey (lc) $85 |
#76857, Galena with Calcite and
Chalcopyrite, Sweetwater Mine, Missouri (lc) $350 |
#73783, Galena with Sphalerite in marble,
Lime Crest Quarry (Limecrest), Sussex Mills, New Jersey (lc) $75 |
#76368, Sphalerite over Quartz with pseudomorphs
after Barite, Elmwood Mine, Tennessee (lc) $250 |
#73782, Galena with Sphalerite in marble,
Lime Crest Quarry (Limecrest), Sussex Mills, New Jersey (lc) $55 |
|
#73786, Galena with Sphalerite in marble,
Lime Crest Quarry (Limecrest), Sussex Mills, New Jersey (lc) $50 |
The chalcocite below, from Chimney Rock Quarry, is from
my private collection
This chalcocite from the Chimney Rock Quarry is an important museum-quality
mineral specimen that I acquired for my private collection many years ago.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the largest and finest chalcocite
specimen every collected at Chimney Rock. This quarry has not been
accessible to collectors for the last 25+ years. Chalcocite, a rare mineral
in New Jersey trap rock quarries, occurs at the boundary of two rock formations,
where copper-rich solutions encounter impermeable layers above, causing copper
minerals to precipitate, followed by late-forming calcite.
The ONLY reason I am selling this specimen is that it is too large
for my display case.
I highly recommend this, without reservation, for collectors of top-quality
minerals. |
#73189, Chalcocite in Calcite, Chimney
Rock Quarry, Bound Brook, New Jersey (lc) $3500 |
BOURNONITE FROM CHINA
Fifteen to twenty years ago bournonite specimens from China were readily
available, yet quite expensive. The Yaogangxian Mine was producing fine specimens
then, some worth up to $1 million. Bournonite is an uncommon (there are only
138 photos of bournonite from China listed on Mindat.org) sulfosalt mineral,
with the formula: PbCuSbS3. Bournonite crystals are commonly complexly twinned,
resulting in complex clusters of parallel twinned crystals, with parallel
crystal faces, and if cyclic-twinned will exhibit the classic "cog wheel"
habit.
The bournonite specimens below are from a stash that was collected in China
around the 2000, and have not seen the light of day since they were collected.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire this uncommon mineral in large crystals
and at discounted prices compared to 15 years ago. |
#75365, Bournonite (doubly terminated),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $85 |
#75249, Bournonite, Yaogangxian Mine,
China (m) $375 |
#75363, Bournonite, Yaogangxian Mine,
China (t) $65 |
#75519, Bournonite, Yaogangxian Mine,
China (t) $115 |
#75516, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $135 |
#75364, Bournonite (cyclic twinned
crystals), Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $135 |
#75044, Bournonite (tabular doubly-terminated
crystal), Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $165 |
#75522, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $150 |
#75520, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $165 |
#75524, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $165 |
#75497, Bournonite (complexly twinned crystals)
on Quartz, Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $275 |
#75525, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $375 |
#75527, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (m) $225 |
#75521, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $195 |
#75523, Bournonite (twinned crystals),
Yaogangxian Mine, China (t) $225 |
NEW INFORMATION ABOUT COATED PYRITE CRYSTALS FROM MILPILLAS
MINE, MEXICO
There has been a series of errors in identification
of the gray-metallic-coated pyrite crystals from the Milpillas Mine,
Mexico.
Now the mystery is solved: the coating is definitively
CHALCOCITE.
Here is a chronology of the evolution of misidentifications:
-
The sulfide zone was encountered in 2015 at the Milpillas Mine and pyrite
crystals with uncommon gray-metallic coating were found.
-
A wholesaler (to remain anonymous) sent specimens to Marcus Origlieri in
March 2015 who tested them using SED-EDS analysis that detected copper (Cu),
iron (Fe), and sulfur (S).
-
The wholesaler decided the coating was bornite and sold tham as
"Bornite coated Pyrite". I purchased a large lot, along with
several other dealers.
-
I sold many at the time labeled per the wholesaler's identification, including
to Prof. Allan Pring at the South Australian Museum.
-
Prof. Pring tested the coating, and failed to detect Fe, which is a significant
component of bornite (= Cu5FeS4). Prof. Pring postulated (correctly) that
the EDS analysis detected the Fe in the underlying pyrite.
-
Based on that analysis, I announced on this site the test results and stated
that bornite was unlikely due to the lack of Fe in the tests, but that the
coating identification was still unknown. At that time I suggested labeling
them as "Pyrite with Chalcocite-Djurleite-Bornite coating"
until definitive tests were performed.
-
I sent additional samples to the South Australia Museum where Ben Grguric
mounted them on polished mounts and tested the coating further, described
the coating as a 5-10 micron thick layer of chalcocite or djurleite (April
2016).
-
Jordi Fabre independently had specimens tested by GeoSpectra using alpha
particle induced X-ray spectroscopy (August 2016), and by EDS on the
longitudinally oriented thin section so the underlying pyrite was not exposed
(December 2017) confirmed the identification of the coating as
CHALCOCITE.
These events are an example of how one wholesaler, in a rush to sell a new
find, failed to wait for proper testing, and propagated false information
throughout the mineral community. A similar misidentification occurred with
the "ajoite" from the Luputo Mine which was actually chrysocolla.
I understand the rush to announce new finds, and I understand that EDS is
fast and easy. But EDS is not a good test for all cases. When results are
not definitive, it is wrong for the wholesaler to "decide" what they should
be labeled. As dealers and collectors, it pays to ask questions regarding
testing and identification.
Finally, it is noted that chalcocite coating on pyrite is known from several
other localities, including the Burra Burra Copper Mine, South Australia,
Australia; Chino Mine, Santa Rita District, Grant County, New Mexico;p and
Ducktown Mine, County, Tennessee in the USA. The latter were sold as
"ducktownite" which were later identified as chalcocite-coated pyrite. The
varietal name ducktownite still persists to describe pyrite crystals coated
with gray-metallic chalcocite.
SPECIAL NOTE: The pyrite crystals at the
Milpillas Mine were fractured after they crystallized and the crystal fragments
were frozen in the white dickite-rich matrix, with thin fractures filled
with matrix. John White in the recent Rocks & Minerals magazine
describes this as "disjoined" crystals. But the chalcocite coating is
on all surfaces of the pyrite crystals, including the fractured
surfaces. That means: 1.) pyrite crystallized; 2.) the pyrite crystals
fractured and were frozen in matrix; 3.) the chalcocite coating formed on
all surfaces of the pyrite at the end
PYRITE WITH CHALCOCITE COATING FROM MILPILLAS MINE,
MEXICO
#75486, Pyrite with partial coating of
Chalcocite, Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $35 |
#73815, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $24 |
#73819, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $22 |
#73814, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $12 |
#75644, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $15 |
#75323, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $30 |
#75662, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $36 |
#75758, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $14 |
#73820, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $22 |
#73817, Pyrite with partial Chalcocite
coating, Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $24 |
#75674, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $65 |
#75645, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $25 |
#75665, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $65 |
#75663, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $30 |
#75348, Pyrite with partial coating of
Chalcocite, Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $32 |
#75646, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $40 |
#75675, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $75 |
#75614, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $45 |
#75671, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $65 |
#75677, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $55 |
#75667, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating in
Quartz, Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $45 |
#75664, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $45 |
#75672, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $85 |
#75670, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $65 |
#75676, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $45 |
#75765, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $22 |
#75761, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $40 |
#75763, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $25 |
#75766, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (t) $36 |
#75764, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $28 |
|
#75756, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (c) $45 |
#75760, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $12 |
#75757, Pyrite with Chalcocite coating,
Milpillas Mine, Mexico (m) $38 |
|
PYRITE CRYSTAL WITHOUT CHALCOCITE COATING
|
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