DJ17-01
Djurleite
Ait Agmane, Bou Azer District, Ouarzazate Province, Morocco
Small Cabinet, 8.6 x 4.4 x 3.6 cm
$15,000.00 Payment Plan Available
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From an early 2016 find in the Bou Azer district, this specimen is simply shocking in its 3-dimensioanl form and quality for this species. Smartly standing upon a greenstone matrix, are several tabular, dark gray-black crystals of djurleite to 3 cm across. A few crystals clearly display incipient hopper growth in a dramatic manner at the edges, giving many crystals a man-made machined-like look, and making them much more interesting visually. Very similar to chalcocite in chemistry but much rarer, this find of djurleite is considered to be the best ever found, worldwide. Period. We had the chance to see nearly all specimens, and though some were larger or more expensive, this still ranks among the top selection that mortals will ever see of the species, I would say. Spectacular in person, this 3-dimensional piece is beautiful, in structure and form, and impressive in its display. I would consider it highly significant for the species and the find: A world class find that resets standards for this rare sulfide species, from the remote Moroccan mountains. These were held back for a year to see if more would come out (and they did not). At Tucson, this was such a shock to the market, that all sold quickly from the single source dealer. No more have been found in a year, and the quality of this single pocket is such that another seems very unlikely. Multiple analyses (including the Paris National Museum) have confirmed the identity as Djurleite, not chalcocite, from early specimens leaked out at Munich. I bought as much of the pocket as I could, surely a majority, for our online customers. In the absence of more, other than a few more expensive and sometimes larger pieces that are now privately placed, this particular specimen should rank very highly indeed, at the lower end of the top 10, and among the best in size class as well.