Molybdenite is a very soft metallic mineral (1-1.5 on the Mohs scale), which makes this sharply formed, hexagonal crystal on quartz even more precious as a survivor of nature's rough handling. Looking from the side, this beautiful crystal looks like dozens of layers of folded aluminum foil, and at 8 cm at its longest measurement, the crystal is a very large example of the species. This is a significantly sized, significantly aesthetic example from this little-known locality (outside China, anyways, it is little known). Most minerals from this mine, which is actually worked for industrial ores such as molybdenite, are misattributed to the Yaogangxian Mine in Hunan. However, all China knows these produce the best molybdenite crystals, and they get sucked up by the market there, particularly the museums. These large, dominating crystals in matrix are the best large molybdenites since Australia produced some, but that was decades ago. This piece was formerly in my own collection, only going out as a duplicate because I have finally obtained a larger piece now (the only larger good one I have seen, in decades, mind you - these are quite rare in quality). It has been through my lab to carefully and precisely excavate the crystal from the surrounding matrix without damage.