Fluorite with Pyrite, Quartz

specimen number:
8311422

location:
Huanzala Mine, Bolognesi, Ancash, Peru

description:
Light purple cubic crystals of fluorite to 4.0 cm in size on a crystallized quartz matrix. Pyrite is present as well. The crystals have been partially naturally etched for dissolved. This is in terrific condition.

The Huanzala Mine, located in the Huallanca District of the Dos de Mayo Province in Peru, is a world-class polymetallic deposit situated high in the Andes Mountains. Geologically, the site is a skarn and hydrothermal replacement deposit where mineral-rich fluids interacted with the Cretaceous-aged Santa and Carhuaz Formations, resulting in spectacular mineralization within limestone and shale. The mine is legendary for producing some of the world's finest pyrite specimens, characterized by brilliant metallic luster and complex crystal habits including cubes, octahedrons, and pyritohedrons. It is equally famous for its fluorite, which often occurs as translucent to transparent pink or green octahedrons, frequently found in aesthetic association with the bright pyrite and needle-like quartz. Historically, industrial-scale mining and quarrying at Huanzala began in 1968 under the operation of the Santa Luisa Mining Company, a subsidiary of Mitsui Mining and Smelting. While the primary commercial focus has always been the extraction of zinc, lead, and copper concentrates, the mine has remained a prolific source of high-quality mineral specimens for the international market for over five decades. As of 2026, Huanzala continues to be a major active producer, maintaining its status as a cornerstone locality for South American mineralogy.

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