Quartz, Enargite, Pyrite

A fine old-time specimen of enargite from the classic Cerro de Pasco, featuring attractive silvery-grey orthorhombic prismatic crystals measuring up to several millimetres in size. The enargite crystals are mostly buried under drusy quartz with associated pyrite. The crystals display a subtle, slightly iridescent surface patina. While there is minor bruising to parts of the quartz, the enargite remains well preserved in spots. This specimen comes from the international collection of Peter Tarassoff.

Cerro de Pasco is one of South America’s most historic and important mining centres, with silver first discovered there in 1630 and worked extensively during the colonial period. The district hosts a large Zn–Pb–Ag–Bi–Cu polymetallic deposit, with sulfide mineralization especially well developed in the nearby Atacocha area. Many classic enargite specimens originate from productive finds made during the 1950s–1970s, when high-quality material entered the collector market. Although mining continues today, comparable old-time specimens are increasingly scarce. Pieces such as this remain valued for their historical significance, classic associations, and strong representation of Peruvian sulfosalt mineralization.