Pyromorphite Crystal Cluster

Description

A bright apple-green Pyromorphite specimen with small, lustrous prismatic crystals spreading across a rugged natural matrix. Their varied shades of lime and olive green give this cabinet piece an appealing depth and sparkle.

From the Daoping Mine in Gongcheng County, Guilin, Guangxi, China, this 264 g Pyromorphite cluster carries numerous short hexagonal prisms across its exposed matrix and into its natural recesses. Brighter apple-green crystal groups sit alongside softer yellow-green growth, while the pale host rock provides contrast.

At 12 × 6 × 3 cm, it is an attractive cabinet specimen for a Chinese mineral or lead-mineral collection. It is offered as a natural specimen with no repairs or restoration reported.

The crossing arrangement described above is an important part of the specimen’s silhouette. It lets the direction of individual crystals be followed through the group, with open spaces making their outlines more apparent. Intersecting crystals alone do not establish a specific twin law; here the description concerns the visible arrangement rather than a laboratory-confirmed crystallographic relationship.

Pyromorphite is a lead phosphate mineral of the apatite group. It forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidised parts of lead deposits. Its crystals can be elongated, short and barrel-like, or gathered into branching and rounded groups. These varied habits make the layout of the crystal growth an important part of a specimen’s character.

Its lustre is often described as resinous, rather than the metallic shine of an ore sulphide. Green, yellow and brown colours all occur in the species. Individual crystals and the smaller growth around them can provide very different textures within the same piece. For a collector, crystal form and the way it sits on the matrix offer useful details beyond the overall colour.

The recorded origin is Daoping Mine, Gongcheng County, Guilin, Guangxi, China. Within a collection of Pyromorphite specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures 12 × 6 × 3 cm, with a recorded weight of 264 g. The proportions give a useful guide to its place in a display, with the individual crystal arrangement and mineral association remaining the principal points of interest.

Support the stable matrix or the supplied mount when moving the specimen, avoiding pressure on projecting growth. A secure indoor display allows its natural form and surface detail to be appreciated while protecting exposed crystal edges.