Sphalerite (rare locality specimen)

One of the VERY FEW Sphalerite specimens that I have seen from the Chicote Grande mine in Bolivia. This mine is best known for its astoundingly fine Japan-Law twinned Quartz specimens, which sometimes played host to beautiful jet-black Ferberite crystals! Chicote Grande is one of the "forgotten" mines in Bolivia over the last 20 years as very little material has been available. My father, Richard Kosnar, had a stake in this mine in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s and was able to acquire some superb and interesting specimens.

This piece was only one of two specimens of Sphalerite from Chicote Grande that my father kept for his personal collection. It is an attractive, sharp, very eye-catching crystal group with great form and virtually no damage! The crystals are sitting on a thin layer of tan Siderite for an added touch. If you’re a Sphalerite collector or a Bolivian mineral collector, do not pass up this unique and hard-to-find display specimen. You don’t see these anywhere on the market now. Without a doubt, one of the best Sphalerites that I know of from this tungsten mine in northern Bolivia.

Ex. Richard A. Kosnar collection

Specimen # BOL711B243