Sphalerite with Quartz

specimen number:
8911142

location:
Kangjiawan deposit, Shuikoushan, Changning Co., Hengyang, Hunan, China

description:
Gemmy orange red crystal grouping of sphalerite to 2.0 x 1.7 x 1.0 cm in size set perfectly up on a matrix coated by sparkling crystallized micro quartz. This attractive specimen is in great condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the Alton collection.

The Kangjiawan deposit, situated within the historically rich Shuikoushan mining district of Changning County, Hengyang, Hunan Province, China, is a major hydrothermal polymetallic ore system formed through complex magmatic-hydrothermal activity. Large-scale mining operations in the broader Shuikoushan field span centuries of extracting lead, zinc, silver, and gold, with modern underground workings at Kangjiawan specifically yielding world-class mineral specimens. Among these discoveries, the deposit is internationally celebrated for producing exceptionally gemmy, highly complex, and lustrous sphalerite crystals. These prized specimens often exhibit striking ruby-red, orange-red, or honey-brown tones, displaying remarkable transparency and sharp crystal faces typically nestled on contrasting matrix quartz or associated with other sulfides.

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