Description
Detailed Description
This specimen from the John S. White quartz collection is a radiating ball of of composite candle-quartz/artichoke crystals, dotted with sharp cubic pyrite crystals and light purple fluorite. The quartz crystals are lustrous and the piece has thousands of tiny faces gleaming under the lights. In excellent condition, no damage. This specimen is figured in Rocks & Minerals, vol. 79, no. 2, March-April 2004. It’s a 360-degree piece that can be displayed in various orientations – a fantastic Shangbao specimen!
About the Shangbao Mine
The Shangbao Mine, which is nestled in a bamboo forest, was originally a small pyrite ore operation. However, commercial mining operations ended decades ago and for many years has been operated for specimens. Today the Shangbao Mine is widely regarded as one of China’s great mineral localities.