Shimen Mine, Shimen Co., Changde Pref., Hunan Prov., China
14 cm tall x 16 cm wide
Collector quality orpiment is found at three locations: Peru, the United States, and China. Each of them is different, yet without hesitation, the Chinese pieces are exemplary. The first samples from China to reach the collector market began in the late 1980s. Mining continued between the years 2000 and 2006. Since then, no further pieces have been available. Less than six pieces achieved the perfection and balance of this specimen.
The glowing amber orpiment crystals, each possessing iridescent quality, contrast marvelously with a white calcite crystal matrix.