Galena with Sphalerite

specimen number:
9892202

location:
Carhuacayan Mine, Yauli, Junin, Peru

description:
A loose bright lustrous somewhat skeletal crystal of metallic galena. Very little sphalerite attached on the bottom backside. This is mostly cubic in form, yet it exhibits a very large and prominent octahedral crystal face across the front. In good condition.

The Carhuacayan Mine, located in the high-altitude Yauli Province of the Junin Department in Peru, is situated within a historically rich polymetallic mining belt of the Peruvian Andes known for complex hydrothermal vein systems hosted in Cretaceous and Paleogene sedimentary and igneous rocks. Mining activity in the region has targeted massive sulfide deposits enriched in zinc, lead, silver, and copper, with operations generating notable mineral specimens alongside industrial ore extraction. Mineral collectors value specimens from the Carhuacayan deposit for their striking displays of well-crystallized sulfides and associated secondary minerals, including lustrous sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and various manganese-bearing carbonates. Over the decades, localized underground operations and mineral specimen recovery have made this Andean locality a recognized source of high-quality South American collector minerals.

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