3" Tabular Arsenopyrite Crystals With Siderite - Portugal

Tabular Arsenopyrite Crystals With Siderite - Portugal #239767

This is an incredibly lustrous, 3" wide cluster of sharp arsenopyrite crystals that formed in association with golden siderite. It was collected from the Panasqueira Mines of Castelo Branco. This industrial mining center extends over 12.5 square miles and contains many mining sites, producing a wide variety of exceptional mineral specimens.

This specimen is accompanied by an acrylic display base and mineral tack.

Arsenopyrite is an iron arsenic sulfide with the chemical formula FeAsS. It is the most common arsenic-bearing mineral and is its principal ore, and can be found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock. Crystals can be found as prismatic, twinned, columnar, elongated and massive formations within veins and are found in locations all around the world. Depending on minerals present during formation, the iron in arsenopyrite can be replaced by cobalt, forming cobaltite.

Arsenopyrite contains a significant amount of poisonous arsenic, making it somewhat toxic. Washing hands following handling is recommended.

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