Pyrite

specimen number:
8911200

location:
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Bolognesi, Ancash, Peru

description:
Attractive grouping of lustrous sharp large octahedral pyrite crystals without matrix. This is naturally crystallized all around and in great condition. The largest pyrite crystal measures 6.0 cm on edge. The specimen comes with a previous label from the Alton collection.

The Huanzala Mine, located in the Huallanca district of the Bolognesi Province in Ancash, Peru, has a long history that began with initial discovery and small-scale working in 1721, followed by long periods of abandonment. Modern industrial underground mining officially commenced in 1968 after intensive exploration and development by Compania Minera Santa Luisa S.A. Geologically, the deposit is a major polymetallic skarn and replacement-style orebody hosted within steeply dipping Lower Cretaceous carbonate sequences, formed through hydrothermal activity and intrusions related to Miocene porphyry systems. Mineralogically, the mine is world-renowned among collectors for yielding some of the finest cabinet-grade metallic and gangue specimens ever discovered, particularly brilliant mirror-bright pyrite crystals, vibrant fluorite, sphalerite, and quartz, making it one of the most prolific specimen-producing mines globally.

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