Pyrite

specimen number:
2292336

location:
Huanzala Mine, Ancash, Peru

description:
Bright lustrous golden crystals of pyrite to 1.5 cm in size across both sides of matrix. This is in good condition all around.

The Huanzala mine, located in the Huallanca district of Peru, was originally discovered in 1721 and operated briefly before being abandoned. It remained largely idle until 1964, when the Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company initiated modern exploration, leading to the commencement of active underground mining in 1968. Geologically, the deposit consists of stratabound polymetallic zinc, lead, and copper mineralization hosted within the Cretaceous-aged limestone of the Santa Formation. While the mine functions as a major industrial producer of base metals, it is highly recognized in the mineralogical community for yielding exceptional, sharply formed cubic and octahedral pyrite crystals, alongside notable specimens of fluorite, sphalerite, and galena.

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