Great pyrite heart in a stand from Peru

A pyrite heart from Peru in a metal stand. The polished heart surface displays the typical pyrite microcrystals as a geometric microstructure.

Pyrite crystallizes cubically in several characteristic habit variants: cubes, pentagonal dodecahedra or octahedra. In polished sections, the microcrystals are often recognizable as fine geometric structures. When directly illuminated, the surface appears to sparkle because different microcrystal faces reflect light in different directions.

This sparkling property makes polished pyrite material a classic jewelry and display mineral. The Hispanic people called it Marcasita in the 16th century. Today, this is a confusing term because marcasite in modern mineralogy refers to a different mineral.

Peruvian deposits in Huanzala are a documented source of material since the Spanish colonial era.

A Peruvian collector's item with microcrystal sparkling effect and colonial-historical provenance.