Peruvian Realgar
Almost exactly one year prior to this update,
there was a major find of realgar in Romania (November 2005)--and now here are
specimens from yet another impressive find. Although this find is more
limited, it has produced some of the most well crystallized realgars to emerge
from Peru to date. Orpiment is well known from the region, and has been
extracted for years, but good quality realgar
is virtually unknown.
Like most other specimens of this brittle
species, all have a little damage. They also all have a deep, blood-red hue
that is closer to the classic Shimen specimens, and not the more dull, opaque
pieces from Baia Sprie.
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PREAL1 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
4.8x
3.2x 1.5 cm
$225
The largest crystal of
the bunch, with a deep red color, and sharp crystals. The largest crystals on this piece are double terminated.
There is a contact on the right side of the specimen, though this does
not detract from it, as evidenced by the photographs.
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PREAL2 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
4.6x
3.6x 2.6 cm
$165
A cluster of bright red realgar
crystals on galena.
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PREAL3 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
4.5x
3.4x 2.6 cm
$165
A nice miniature cluster
of terminated realgar crystals with orpiment.
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PREAL4 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.2x
3.3x 2.0 cm
A miniature specimen of
realgar, with what I believe are a couple sphalerite crystals to 1 cm on
the reverse.
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PREAL5 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.5x
3.6x 2.0 cm
$135
A very good miniature
specimen, with numerous realgar crystals arranged in a "geometric
fashion" on a galena matrix.
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PREAL6 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.1x
2.4x 1.8 cm
$88
Another miniature form the
find, with the same deep red color and orpiment association.
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PREAL7 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.5x
3.1x 3.1 cm
$125
Another miniature specimen
with numerous terminated crystals and good three-dimensionality.
There is some damage, to the piece, so the price has been kept
low.
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PREAL8 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
2.8x
2.4x 2.0 cm
$85
A nice thumbnail from the
find. As you can see, a little damage.
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PREAL9 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
4.6x
2.6x 1.7 cm
$168
A large, double terminated
crystal of realgar, with a partial orpiment coating.. No damage on
this one.
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PREAL10 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
4.5x
3.0x 1.7 cm
$145
A miniature specimen with
a rich coverage of realgar crystals, on a bright galena matrix.
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PREAL11 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.1x
2.1x 1.4 cm
$85
A deep red, terminated
realgar crystal. It looks like something from Shimen..
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PREAL12 Realgar,
Orpiment
Mina
Palomo, Julcani Dist., Huancavelica Dept., Peru
3.9x
3.5x 2.5 cm
$58
A double terminated
realgar crystal on a sulfide matrix. Looks like a bright Romanian
piece.
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