| 5miscr ((PYRITE 24 faces per crystal)), $10 MINIMUM BID, Ross County, Ohio, 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm, Cabinet, | |
 | These are very unusual lustrous Pyrite crystal form in that they have 24 crystal faces per crystal. This specimen has what appears to be two cracks or two repairs. I do not believe these are repairs. These specimens are etched with HCl since the Pyrite are/were enclosed in Calcite. I looked at this with a loop. Easier seen on the back are two large furrows with hairline cracks. I can not actually see any cracks with by eye. I must use the loop and so they are small and tight throughout unlike a repair. I think that the furrows were from the acid seeping into the cracks and etching the limestone in addition to the calcite. You can see the etching on the surface of the limestone matrix. So the cracks were pre- etching. I do not see any sign of glue. I do see a small amount of remnant Calcite between the Pyrite. There are other small and tighter cracks on the back. I also can not find any crack through any of the Pyrite crystals. Perhaps the cracks even occurred pre crystallization of the Pyrite crystals. The one close up has a large Pyrite crystal that looks like it has a crack but it is not a crack. I just can not believe the Limestone matrix was ever separated. One last note there is also a furrow with a small crack in the furrow like these but the furrow and crack ends. |
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