Stannite is a rare copper-iron-zinc-tin sulfide that is difficult to find in well-crystallized specimens like this one from the Yaogangxian Mine. This is a particularly dramatic miniature because of the color contrast and form contrasts, here. The best crystals of Stannite in the world are found at this mine as well as the San Jose and Siglo Veinte mines in Bolivia - although these tend to be prettier. This piece features a pair of steel-gray, almost tabular, 3 to 3.5 cm, pseudo-hexagonal Stannite crystals forming a "sandwich" of crystals in near parallel growth ; that are beautifully accented by nearly a dozen 3 to 8 mm Chalcopyrite crystals that have a coppery red patina. Crystals of this size are very rare and this is a very good, nearly textbook Stannite from the famous Yaogangxian Mine of China. Purchased (and identified by) from well known Chinese and Asian-focused mineral specialist Bert Ottens, it looks like older production but even then, the shape is unusual. It is a special style for this rare material.