This is an oldtimer, showing classic twinned sphalerites with a dark but translucent yellow-brown color. The intersecting sphalerite twins are perched on quartz, and accented with sharp and brassy golden chalcopyrite crystals. A fine display quality specimen from this very old mining district, long in the Gene Meieran sulfide collection (his label dates it back more than 30 years).

An oldtime Japanese specimen from the collection of the American Museum. The piece has brilliantly lustrous sphalerites of several crystal forms, perched on contrasting white quartz matrix. Some crystals are translucent. It was labeled "Echigo" which is an old name for Niigata Prefecture, today. This probably came out at the same time as some well-known sphalerites from the Burrage collection, also labelled "Echigo " or "Yechigo" on the contemporary labels from that period (and shown on MINDAT now). No telling which mine for sure, but the region seems to have produced good sulfides in the 1800s. This specimen was formerly in the AMNH collection and , most recently, in the Conklin collection.. Joe Budd photos

From famous finds here in the early 2000s, this is a brilliantly lustrous and sparkly specimen with sphalerite perched on translucent, stumpy quartz crystals. The color is very unique and interesting - glowing red-orange sphalerite with yellow highlights. Totally unique find and appearance! This specimen looks good from several angles and is one of the finer pieces I have seen turn up again recently. Joe Budd Photos