Pyrite

Here is a sharp dodecahedral (pyritohedral) pyrite crystal with specks of hematite. The specimen comes from the iron mines of Rio Marina, Elba Island, most of which are closed now but date all the way back to the ancient Etruscans. This locality has been a well known collecting spot for pyrite since the beginning of the 19th century. The piece has a couple of dings but is an affordable specimen from a historic locality.