Detailed information
Species
Pyrite
Dimensions
56 x 40 x 25
mm
Locality
Bayerland Mine, Pfaffenreuth Leonberg, Upper Palatinate Bavaria, Germany
Condition
No recorded repairs
Highly lustrous, octahedral Pyrite crystals of silver-white-gold richly cover a mound of light grey granular phyllite. From the Bayerland mine at Pfaffenreuth in Bavaria, Germany, an iron mine which began during WW2 and operated until its closure in 1971. The mine exploited two main orebodies; one of Pyrite, the other, Pyrrhotite. The octahedral crystals measure up to 1.1 cm on edge and have very smooth, reflective faces. The largest crystals form an arc around the top of the mound.