Pyrrhotite

A lustrous brassy specimen of inter-grown pyrrhotite crystals mounted to a plexi base. Pyrrhotite is unusual iron sulfide with variable iron content. The back of the crystal was once contacted to the host rock, however this does not distract from the crystal while on display. The specimen comes from the Blue Bell Mine, once a major lead-zinc producer until its closing in 1971. This rare specimen was most likely unearthed in the 50s or 60s. If you can get your hands on the January-February, 1977 issue of the Mineralogical Record you can read more about the locality boasting "The specimen quality rivals other well-known localities such as Santa Eulalia, Mexico and Trepca, Yugoslavia." Sweet!