A a single sharp alabandite crystal situated in the center of a manganocalcite coated matrix, from  Uchucchacua.  This is very different from the typical clusters (or jumbles) that accounted for the bulk of the recovered specimens, so i thought it would make a good addition to the update.

Alabandite is manganese sulfide.  While it is known from many localities, crystallized specimens are known from only a couple, and specimens are exceedingly rare.  The best have come from Uchucchacua, and decades ago from Sacarimb, Romania.  Those from other localities (Broken Hill, NSW being the most prominent) tend to be ugly aggregates.