JC12A Molybdenite
Hirase Mine, Shirakawamura, Gifu Pref., Japan
6.2x 4.8x 2.2 cm
$435
A large molybdenite crystal from Japan. Like most of the Japanese minerals in this update, this piece is old-- most of the Japanese ore mines closed long ago, and this one comes from a mine that operated from 1931 until 1979. This is a good example of the species from anywhere, if I were to see this without a label I would have probably guessed it was Australian, considering the size and form.... of course this is much rarer.