Sphalerite with Quartz

specimen number:
9507110

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

description:
Lustrous deep orange red translucent crystals of sphalerite to 1.5 cm in size on a matrix that is mostly coated with small crystallized quartz. This is in good condition.

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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