Spherical Chalcopyrite balls coated in a colorful, ultra sparkly second generation of Chalcopyrite from the Tonglushan Mine (meaning 'Green Copper Mountain in Mandarin)- the worlds oldest continuous working copper mine, dating back over 3500 years
Size: 51 grams - 2.2" at longest point
Locality: Tonglushan Copper Mine, near Daye Co., Hubei Province, China
Their Story:
These pieces first appeared on the Market in 2019 and immediately raised some suspicions. They looked too good to be true. Arkenstone, one of the most respected mineral dealers in the world, purchased pieces from the initial find and had them tested. The results showed genuine chalcopyrite inside and out. They've been tested since in every way a mineral can be tested and all results have been the same. There has also been no evidence that they have been assembled from single balls, as no polymers or adhesives have ever been found. Calcium Sulfide crystals (a very rare mineral on earth that is usually associated with meteorites) were discovered on the surface of specimens left sitting for several months, which just deepened the mystery. This find has had many geologists and mineral enthusiasts scratching their heads for years and have become an unforgettable part of mineralogical history.
This is a very brief summary of the extensive ongoing story with this material. To learn more, we suggest these references 👇
Dr. Stuart Mills' (Senior Curator of Geosciences at Museum Victoria) research
The Arkenstones' Blog + Lab Results
The Smithsonians' Article
*Please note that colors may vary slightly from the photographs due to lighting and your device settings*
*All crystals and stones (unless otherwise noted) are natural and therefore are not perfect and may have imperfections. Any abnormal and/or notable damage will be disclosed*