Franckeite (Ref: 7198)

This is an exceptionally aesthetic display mini of Franckeite from the famous Bolivian San José Mine of Oruro. Franckeit, a RARE lead-antimony sulfosalt, typically occurs as tabular crystal clusters embedded in ore matrix. Freestanding Franckeit crystals are rather rare. Here, however, we have a wonderfully aesthetic sculptural specimen consisting of steel-gray, freestanding Franckeit crystals with a beautiful metallic luster, forming excellent mounded aggregates with a maximum diameter of 1.3 cm. Some of them have prominent terminations, are sharp, and have distinct grooves. An outstanding example of a rare species, discovered in the early 1970s. This analyzed specimen comes from the collection of Richard A. Kosnar.