Detailed information
Species
Ferberite, Scheelite, Arsenopyrite
Dimensions
38 x 62 x 29
mm
Weight
113 g
Locality
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County Chenzhou Prefecture Hunan Province, China
Condition
No recorded repairs
Although most mineral collectors think of Yaogangxian mine for its exceptionally beautiful Fluorite specimens it is a tungsten mine and occasionally nicely formed bladed black crystals of Ferberite are seen available. These crystals usually present a very sharp, blade-like termination and upper edges, in contrast to the straighter, more blocky edges seen at places like Panasqueira in Portugal. This 6 cm long Ferberite crystal from Yaogangxian mine is technically off-matrix, but is covered on its backside with many pale mauve-grey cubic Fluorite crystals, a few very dark coloured octahedral Scheelite crystals and complex serrated silvery-grey Arsenopyrite crystals. The Fluorite and Scheelite on the back of this specimen appear somewhat naturally etched, or a little frosted in their appearance but provide a great context to the typical assemblage, or suite, of species found in this important Chinese mineral deposit. From the front, the shape of the Ferberite crystal is really fine and its glossy black colour is broken up by one or two white to colourless cubes of Fluorite sat near its bladed termination. Ex Arvid Pasto Collection.
