Iridescent Fine Chalcopyrite on Calcite

Iridescent Chalcopyrite on Calcite | Hubei, China | 132 g

A fine coating of chalcopyrite gives this calcite specimen a golden shimmer, like a dusting of metallic sugar. Brassy gold covers much of the surface, with patches of soft blue, green, and violet where the coating catches the light at an angle. The sparkle is especially fine, so the color can look almost continuous from a distance and resolve into countless tiny glints up close.

A row of angular gray calcite crystals crosses the middle of the piece, forming a raised ridge between two broad areas of gold. Some crystal faces carry a light dusting of chalcopyrite, while others remain silvery gray. Side lighting brings out the stepped edges and the shadows beneath them, giving the low-profile specimen a surprising amount of depth.

Condition — This specimen has been repaired.
Minerals — Calcite with a fine iridescent chalcopyrite coating
Origin — Hubei Province, China
Dimensions — 9 cm long × 5 cm wide × 2.5 cm high (approx. 3.5 × 2.0 × 1.0 in)
Weight — 132 g (approx. 4.7 oz)