Flat: Natural, Pyrite Cubes In Rock From Spain - 20 Pieces

This is a flat of shiny, pyrite cubes still partially embedded in the rock from the famous Victoria Mine in Navajun, Spain. Some of the rocks contain multiple cubes with the largest cubes being about 1.1" wide. They are formed naturally and have been carefully extracted from the rock which they are found in using mechanical tools. The rock on a some of them maybe stabilized to keep the cube in place. You will receive the exact flat pictured.

At first glance some people assume that these pyrite cubes are man-made, but the amazing thing is that they are natural! Pyrite from this location is famous for its beautiful shine, near-perfect cubic formation, and sculptural appearance. Because the matrix rock is soft, the cubes often come loose during collection. Care is taken during preparation to stabilize, repair, and make sure everything is remounted in its natural position: no specimens are composites. This means that nearly all of the pyrite cubes still in the rock from this locality have been remounted, and most clusters of multiple cubes have been stabilized.

The "Ampliación a Victoria" pyrite deposit is located 3 kilometers northwest from Navajún town in the Alcarama mountain chain. The history of mining in the area goes back to Romans mining for silver. Modern galena mining led to discovery of the pyrite in 1965, and since then specimens from this locality have been sought out by collectors worldwide. The largest crystal found to date was over 19 centimeters and weighed 9.5 kilograms!

FeS2, otherwise known as pyrite or 'Fool's Gold', contains about 47 percent iron and 53 percent sulfur. It gets the name 'fool's gold' because of its brassy golden color. The name pyrite comes from the Greek word pur meaning "fire": in ancient times pyrite was struck against flint to create sparks and start fires.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Pyrite
LOCATION
Victoria Mine, Navajun, Spain
SIZE
20 Pieces, Cubes .8 to 1.1" wide, Rock 1.5 to 2.5"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#92556