Quick Highlights
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Size: 2.5 x 2 x 2 inches
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Weight: 101 grams
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Origin: Fengjiashan Mine, Daye County, Hubei Province, China
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Key Features: Ultra-dark metallic pyrite with high contrast quartz, golden-brassy luster, crisp crystal termination, raw matrix edge
Product Description
Introduction
This remarkable small-format specimen from the Fengjiashan Mine in Daye, China, pairs a jet-black cubic pyrite crystal with brilliant, needle-clear quartz in a dazzling, high-contrast display. The pyrite's partial natural coating gives it a unique dark tone, rare for the locality, yet with vivid flashes of metallic gold peeking through. Its compact size and dramatic appearance make it an exceptional accent piece for collectors and crystal enthusiasts alike.
Geological Details
This specimen features pyrite, an iron sulfide mineral (FeS₂), in a cubic crystal system—exemplifying its isometric growth habit—with quartz growing in well-formed, transparent prismatic crystals (trigonal system). It formed within a skarn-type polymetallic deposit, a product of hydrothermal fluids altering carbonate-rich host rocks near intrusive bodies. This environment, rich in sulfur and iron, yielded pyrite in a rare, darkened patina due to natural oxidation and minor ilvaite inclusions, a mineral closely associated with skarn environments in this region.
Aesthetic Appeal
Despite its size, this piece commands attention. The lustrous black and gold pyrite contrasts dramatically with the radiant sprays of quartz needles bursting from all sides. Light reflects richly off the metallic facets, while the quartz sparkles with each shift in angle. This interplay between shadow and shimmer gives the specimen a dynamic quality—refined and bold.
Metaphysical Properties
Pyrite is revered for its protective qualities, shielding against negative energies and enhancing willpower and confidence. Quartz, known as the “Master Healer,” amplifies surrounding energies and supports clarity and focus. Together, these two minerals create a powerful synergy—ideal for personal energy work or as a grounding centerpiece in a sacred space.
Rarity
Although pyrite is abundant, specimens from the Fengjiashan Mine exhibiting such a dark natural coating, minimal matrix, and highly defined cubic geometry are quite rare. Most available examples from this region are larger and often mixed with calcite or fluorite. This smaller specimen retains all the visual appeal while offering accessibility for newer collectors or desktop displays.
Why You’ll Love It
Whether drawn to minerals for their metaphysical benefits or purely their aesthetic splendor, this piece delivers both. Its sleek contrast of dark and light, its excellent preservation, and its portable size make it ideal for collectors looking for something different and distinctive. It's a conversation piece that brings depth, style, and energy.
Specifications
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Exact Dimensions: 2.5 x 2 x 2 inches
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Weight: 101 grams
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Finish: Natural edges and raw matrix; partially oxidized pyrite
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Unique Features: Rare black-patinated cubic pyrite with exposed golden sheen; high-transparency quartz points
Collector’s Note
The Fengjiashan Mine (also called Daye Copper Mine) is renowned among collectors for its world-class pyrite and hematite specimens. With increased mining restrictions and less material reaching the global market, smaller, unaltered, high-aesthetic pieces like this are becoming harder to obtain.
Display Recommendations
This piece pairs beautifully with black velvet or wood-backed display cases. It responds well to soft spotlighting, which brings out the contrast between the quartz clarity and the pyrite's golden reflections.
