`Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

8.4x 5.3x 4.4 cm

 A cabinet pyromorphite from the finds of early 2000.  This specimen has the much sought after bright grass-green color that is has become difficult to find in the specimens currently on the market.   

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

6.5x 3.5x 3.3 cm

 A cabinet pyromorphite from the finds of early 2000.  This specimen has the much sought after bright grass-green color that is almost impossible to find in the specimens currently on the market, which usually have a much flatter, darker green.  The crystals on this specimen reach 1 cm. 

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

6.7x 4.0x 3.6 cm

 Here is a matrix specimen on NEON green pyromorphite crystals to 1 cm, from a small pocket found in late 2006. That's right--2006.

There was a small find in a neighboring mine, so while the original finds of 2000-2004 have all been depleted, a small number of  newer specimens were available at the 2007 Tucson show.

The color is not the "grass green" of the above specimens--this is neon.

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

4.3x 3.8x 3.1 cm

 A very interesting miniature specimen, with huge pyromorphite crystals to 2.3 cm.

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

7.7x 7.2x 3.2 cm

 A cabinet pyromorphite from a small pocket discovered in 2006, at small mine near the one that produced the original find.   

This specimen is interesting, in that it has the hoppered neon form, right next to lighter green, elongated crystals.  The crystals reach 1.6 cm.  The overall color is brighter than the pictures suggest.

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

11.5x 6.5x 4.5 cm

 A cabinet pyromorphite from the finds of early 2000.  Flatter green, but nice.

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

3.0x 2.4x 2.1 cm

 A TN  pyromorphite from the finds of early 2000.  

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

2.5x 1.6x 1.6 cm

 A cabinet pyromorphite from the finds of early 2000.  I purchased this way back in the early days of the find, from Fine Minerals International.  One of my favorite TN's. 

Pyromorphite

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

3.6x 3.0x 2.2 cm

 Chinese pyromorphites are still relatively cheap-so whenever I see a decent one at a good price, I buy it. Bright.  

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

3.25x 3.1x 1.5 cm

 A really screwy thumbnail, with the top color.    I don't really know what to make of it...but it is certainly unique among all the other Daoping pyros.

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

6.2x 4.0x 2.8 cm

 Another Chinese pyromorphite.  Although the color is mediocre, the crystals are large--to 1.6 cm.  Not bad, for $50 in 2007, considering some dealers were asking over 1k for similar pieces.. 

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

8.4x 6.4x 3.6 cm

An unusual specimen, in that the short, prismatic crystals are perched on quartz.  Many are arranged into ball shaped aggregares.

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

4.5x 3.6x 2.0 cm.

Nothing special, just an example of a typical Daoping pyro. 

Pyromorphite,

Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Central South Region, China

5.2x 4.4x 3.8 cm

 A small cabinet specimen with a "pinwheel" of pyromorphite on matrix. 

Pyromorphite,

San Andres Mine, near Villaviciosa, Cordoba, Spain

3.3x 3.0x 1.8 cm

A nice thumbnail specimen from the 1997 find at the San Andres Mine, Cordoba, Spain. 

Unfortunately, this is the only Spanish specimen I have at the moment--believe it or not, good specimens from the San Andres mine are harder to find than Les Farges pieces....

Pyromorphite

Mina Resuperferrolitica, Santa Eufemia, Cordoba, Spain

Pyromorphite,

Heilige Dreifaltigkeit Mine, Zschopau, Erzgebirge, Sachsen, Germany

4.6x 3.6x 3.3 cm

This is a very old specimen that boasts a rich green color, and has survived the years well.

Pyromorphite,

Heilige Dreifaltigkeit Mine, Zschopau, Erzgebirge, Sachsen, Germany

4.5x 2.5x 1.3 cm

Here is another Zschopau  specimen, this one a spectacular miniature with a cluster of elongated pyromorphites perched on the edge of their matrix.  

Pyromorphite,

Merkur Mine, Bad Ems, Hesse, Germany

3.8x 2.6x 1.8 cm

An uber-rare pyromorphite from the Merkur mine.  This mine was known for producing fat, barrel shaped crystals with an olive color.  All the crystals are double terminated (the back side has the second terminations) and reach 1.8 cm.  

Pyromorphite

Beim Stollen Mine, Tanzfleck, Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate), Bavaria, Germany

5.0x 3.5x 5.0 cm

A rich, bright green pyromorphite from a hard-to-find German locality.  This is one of the better pieces that I have seen from Tanzfleck-- most are large plates with many microcrystals.  This one has a display face completely covered with zoned, terminated and double terminated crystals.

Beim Stollen was an ancient lead mine that was finally abandoned in 1954.  It is also near a U.S. military training area, and as such so collecting has been allowed for the past couple decades.

Pyromorphite,

Wasserfall Quarry, Velbert, Neiderberg Area, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

3.9x 2.6x 2.5 cm

An interesting locality piece from Germnay.  There is now a highway where the Wasserfall quarry was once located.

Pyromorphite

Rosenberg mine, Bad Ems, Nassau, Germany

7.3x 6.3x 2.9cm

A rich cabinet specimen in the typical brown color, from a classic German locality.  This specimen was purchased from Jack Crowley, and was at one time in the possession of the Arkenstone.

Pyromorphite

Rosenberg Mine, Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatineate, Germany

5.7x 2.2x 2.1 cm

A nice miniature hosting many lustrous, sharp pyromorphite prisms to 1 cm.  A classic.

Pyromorphite,

Asprieres, France

7.1x 4.0x 2.0 cm

Pretty, no?  A cabinet specimen that I purchased from the collector, who actually owns the plot of land from which this piece came.  It consists of almost botryoidal pyromorphite covering  its matrix, and grades from yellow on one side, to green on the other.

Pyromorphite,

Chaillac, Asprieres, France

9.5x 6.1x 4.4 cm

Bunker Hill?  Nope--France.  A very unusual piece from the locality,  in that it has distinct crystals, as opposed to the botryoidal form more common at the locality.  

Pyromorphite,

St. Salvy, Tarn, Rhône-Alps, France

7.8x 4.4x 2.4 cm

A very rich specimen from this locality.  It is a cabinet specimen, just over 8 cm in length, with a display face that is richly covered with bright, acicular pyromorphite.

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

5.9x 2.9x 1.5 cm

Not the prettiest piece, but very unusual for Les Farges.  I can almost swear it is calcian pyromorphite, but I have not had it tested.  Les Farges was known for producing the olive to INTENSE (more than Daoping or pretty much anywhere else) green--but this is the only specimen I have seen from the locality with this appearance.  I would question its origin, except it was purchased from a French collector who is very familiar with the locality.

Pyromorphite

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

8.4x 5.1x 3.8 cm

 Here is a very interesting cabinet Les Farges pyromorphite--it consists of numerous crystals, on smoky quartz (highly unusual for Les Farges.)  A many of the smoky quartz crystals display

hoppered faces, as do the pyros.

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

5.6x 3.3x 2.3 cm

A very beautiful Les Farges pyro, with numerous arbosrescent crystals arranged on a scrap of matrix.  This piece is actually much more vibrant in person.  The flatter green areas are really just reflection. 

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

4.6x 4.0x 2.3 cm

Another deep green Les Farges pyro, similar to the above.   It reminds me of a small conifer. 

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

5.7x 5.0x 2.5 cm

Another deep green Les Farges pyro, similar to the above.   I buy these whenever I see them for sale, as such pieces were only found over the brief interval from 1976 to 1980.

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

5.1x 3.1x 2.4 cm

It's pyromorphite, its green, and its from Les Farges, 

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

2.6x 2.4x 1.6 cm

A nice ball-shaped cluster of pyromorphite , with a tiny second generation of bright green crystals visible on the terminations of the first generation. 

I purchased this specimen from a French collector, who said that it came from a slightly older collection.  The included label says "St. Prie" but I cannot find any other references to any such place.  I *think* it is from Les Farges--the form, color, and age of the collection from which it came all point in that direction.

If anyone has any information about this "St. Prie", please let me know.

Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

4.0x 3.0x 2.7 cm

A cluster of brown pyromorphite crystals, with yellow terminations.  The largest aggregates reach 2.75 cm in length.

Pyromorphite,

Baja California Sur, Mexico

10.2x 6.9x 6.4 cm

A rare pyromorphite from Baja California Sur, with pyromorphite crystals to 1.5 cm.  Quite impressive for the locality.

Ex. Ecole des Mines collection.

Pyromorphite

Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia

4.7x 2,6x 2.1 cm.

A specimen from an unusual Australian locality, hosting numerous yellow hexagonal prisms of pyromorphite.

Pyromorphite,

Pyromorphite Mine, Mt Shoobridge, Northern territory, Australia 

6.6x 4.4x 4.8 cm

I purchased this specimen at Tucson 2007, from an Australian dealer who also owns the claim on which the specimen was found.  It is fluorescent, and from a find made just prior to the show. 

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite,

Kintore Open Cut, Block 14, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

3.2x 2.2x 2.2 cm

A floater cluster of doubly terminated pyromorphites from Broken hill.  The crystals are very large for the locality, and the find was mentioned in the May-June 1993 issue of the Mineralogical record.

Pyromorphite,

Block 14, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

8.4x 4.6x 2.1 cm

Here is another specimen from Broken Hill.  The mines at this locality produced pyromorphite in a number of forms and habits--I have three of them here so far.  This cabinet specimen has a rich coating of reddish pyros to 3 mm covering a coronadite matrix.  Ex. Baker collection.

Pyromorphite,

Block 14, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

15.0x 7.6x 3.9 cm

Yet another specimen from Broken Hill, representative of what is perhaps the most common habit from the mines.  This is most likely an older specimen, and pieces of this size and richness are encountered more and more infrequently.  The display face is covered with acicular crystals to 3 mm.

Pyromorphite,

Black Star Open Cut, Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia

4.7x 3.5x 1.6 cm

A typical miniature from Mt. Isa, with numerous yellow, barrel shaped crystals on a gossan matrix.  More crystals on the reverse.

Pyromorphite,

Zeehan, Eastern Tasmaina, Australia

7.0x 5.2x 3.8 cm

When they do turn up, most of specimens from Zeehan have only small crystals, usually replaced by hinsdalite. Not this one-- it is a cabinet specimen with numerous dark green pyromorphite crystals, very similar in appearance to the classic Phoenixville material (see below).

Pyromorphite,

Zeehan, Eastern Tasmaina, Australia

5.4x 4.4x 2.8 cm

Here is a second specimen from the same locality, though somewhat richer and with more well formed crystals.  I only saw two of these for sale at the time, and I purchased them both.

Pyromorphite,

Wheatly Mine, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

6.5x 5.1x 3.1 cm

Here is one of those classic Phoenixville specimens. It was purchased from Dr. Robert Lavinsky, who acquired it as part of an old collection that consisted mainly of material from the 1800's and early 1900's.

As most of these Phoenixville pyromorphites were mind prior to the Civil War, it is safe to say that this piece is at least 100 years old (yes... I know the war ended in 1865... but I did say "at least")

It is a little bruised--but on a specimen as rare and old as this one, it doesn't matter.

Pyromorphite,

Wheatly Mine, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

11.4x 4.8x 2.0 cm

Here is another Phoenixville specimen--though this one is hardly a classic.  It is however, a very rich example of the specimens that have been coming from the mine dumps in recent years.

Pyromorphite

Bwlch Glas Mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire), Wales, UK

12.0x 8.4x 4.1 cm

A very beautiful cabinet specimen of Welsh pyromorphite.  While not terribly rare, specimens from this mine  are uncommon--especially in this quality.

It consists of several ball like clusters of pyromorphite nearly centered on a matrix of small, white quartz crystals.  

12.22.06 from Dan Weinrich (whose images I have used).

Pyromorphite

Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom

9.4x 4.4x 3.7 cm

A cabinet specimen richly covered in bright green pyromorphite from the classic Caldbeck Fells area, and judging from the partial label glued tot he reverse, I would guess it is quite old, too.  Under recent legislation, collecting is no longer allowed in this commons.

It was purchased online from the owner of a rock shop in the Western United States.  

Pyromorphite

Burgham Mine, Neare Shelve, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom

8.0x 3.0x 3.0 cm

A cabinet specimen with a druze of green pyromorphites set against a  nicely contrasting matrix. Not much else to say (except that I was an idiot and paid more for the next specimen (1/4 the size) than I did for this one....

Pyromorphite

Burgham Mine, Neare Shelve, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom

4.4x 3.3x 1.5 cm

Like the previous specimen, but smaller.  Nothing too special, but it seemed to have a little more three-dimensionality than other pieces from the locality.  Ex. Clyde Hardin collection.

Pyromorphite

Hardrigg Edge Mine, Melmerby, Cumbria, England, UNited Kingdom

7.6x 4.3x 4.0 cm

A cabinet specimen with hundreds of bright green pyromorphite crystals to 2 mm, on matrix.  Nothing spectacular, but a decent representative from the mine.

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite

Ptschelojad Mine, Kordzali, Bulgaria

5.5x 3.3x 2.0 cm

 (RELEASED)

Here is a specimen form the find of the early 1990's.  Today, these Bulgarian pyros are almost nonexistent on the market.  When they do pop up, specimens usually have only one or two pyro crystals, but this one has at least 17. 

Click thumbnails for larger images

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

5.1x 3.4x 3.3 cm

 A classic Bunker Hill pyromorphite, with large, lustrous, bright orange crystals perched atop lesser xtls and a gossan matrix.  A very choice miniature from the major find of the 1980's.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

3.8x 2.4x 2.2 cm

 A classic Bunker Hill pyromorphite miniature, with numerous crystals to 1.6 cm.  Bright, and no damage.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

3.4x .9x .9 cm

 A classic Bunker Hill pyromorphite thumbnail.  Bright, and no damage.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

 A classic Bunker Hill pyromorphite miniature, with numerous bright yellow, double terminated pyromorphites on matrix.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

3.5x2.5x 1.5 cm

 Another bunker hill pyromorphite, with the tip, almost neon green color.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

3.6x 3.0x 2.2 cm

 Another bunker hill pyromorphite.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

5.1x 3x 2.6 cm

 And another... this one botryoidal and orange.

Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

2.8x 2.1x 2.0 cm

 Same as the above, just smaller.

Pyromorphite

Kellogg Mine, Kellogg, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

14.0x 10.1x 3.8 cm

 A large cabinet pyromorphite that is around 20-30 years old, and from one of the less common mines in an area that has produced much pyromorphite.  The individual crystals reach .8 cm.

Pyromorphite

Wallace, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

4.7x 3.6x 2.7 cm

 Here is a pyromorphite that hails from the same area as the more common Bunker Hill specimens (see above and below).  This one hosts a partial vein containing  numerous deep green crystals (not orange or yellow!) many with pinacoid terminations.

Pyromorphite

Hardshell Mine, Patagonia Mtns, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona

4.4x 3.8x 1.5 cm

 Here is a another unusual American pyromorphite.  This specimen has a number of bright green crystals on matrix, and comes from the closed Hardshell Mine, which arguably has produced Arizona's best pyromorphite to date.

Pyromorphite

Ali Cooper Mine,  Louisa Co., Virginia, United States

4.4x 3.8x 1.5 cm

 A rare pyromorphite from Virginia, of all places.  It is the only one I have ever seen for sale form the state.  Purchased from John Betts.

Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

6.3x 4.2x 4.0 cm

 When most people think of French pyromorphite, Les Farges immediately comes to mind.  The truth is though, France has a number of other good pyromorphite localities: Chaillac, Tarn, Asprieres, the classic Huelgoat deposit, etc.  Here is a very aesthetic specimen of bright green pyromorphite from a mine in Beaujeau, that also produced some spectacular wulfenite/barite combinations.  It was collected in 1999, prior to the mine's closing in 2002.

I had the good fortune of coming into contact with a very generous French collector with whom I exchanged several specimens from Pakistan in return for a suite of French minerals, of which these pyromorphites were a part.

Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

3.1x 3.0x 2.0 cm

 A "toenail" hosting hundreds of tiny, bright green crystals.

Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

3.4x 3.0x 2.0 cm

 Another toenail  hosting hundreds of tiny, bright green crystals.

Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

4.2x 4.0x 3.2 cm

 Another miniature hosting hundreds of tiny, bright green crystals.

Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

...

...

Pyromorphite

Stribro, Pribram, Bohemia, Czech Republic

6.5x 2.8x 1.6 cm

A beautiful brown pyriomorphite from Stribro, in the Czech republic.  This specimen was purchased from John Betts, who acquired it as part of the collection of one John Rorer, who purchased in in Verdun, France in 1954.