Description
Collectors of Japanese minerals rejoice. A Sphalerite from the Oppu Mine in Aomori Prefecture in the northern part of Japan’s main island of Honshu. A well-formed dark brown to orange-brown Sphalerite cluster associated with grey Galena cubes. The Sphalerite cluster is translucent and has a resinous luster with crystals up to 2.,6 cm in size. The Oppu Mine in Aomori Prefecture has an interesting history. It started out in the 17th century as Silver mine, and in the 18th century it was worked for Copper while Lead, Zink and Cadmium were mined in the 19th century. Commercial mining ceased in 1979, and in the years that followed, botryoidal, banded Rhodochrosite for jewelry applications was mined on a small scale.