Victorian Goldfields Pyrite-Rich Quartz Specimen – White, Pink, Black & Purple Crystals in Host Rock: Specimen 10

Notable Features

This 573 g pyrite-rich specimen measures 4 × 3 × 2.5 in (Width × Length × Height). It features quartz crystals sandwiched between layers of host rock, showing strong color variation in white, pink, black, and purple crystals. The host rock itself displays unusual pitted textures that appear as small holes but are solid mineral features rather than true cavities. With high sulfidation, the specimen is dominated by pyrite, making it more of a pyrite showcase than a quartz-crystal piece.

Sulfidation Level

High Sulfidation – Pyrite is abundant throughout the specimen, clustering in metallic masses across the host rock and within quartz zones. Chalcopyrite and darker tetrahedrite inclusions may also be present, but the dominant feature is pyrite saturation, making this a sulfide-heavy specimen.

See how we rate sulfidation levels by visiting our FAQ section.

Mineral Assemblage

• Quartz – crystals in white, pink, black, and purple, sandwiched within host rock

• Pyrite – dominant, brassy metallic clusters throughout

• Chalcopyrite – likely brassy inclusions associated with quartz

• Tetrahedrite – probable source of black staining in quartz

• Iron oxides – subtle staining enhancing pink and purple hues

• Trace potential: arsenopyrite, stibnite, gold, silver, antimony

Note: Not every specimen contains the full mineral assemblage above. Minerals may appear in varying amounts, and each specimen may only feature a subset. Each piece is unique and chosen for its visual appeal and geological character.

Geological Story

This specimen formed during the Silurian Period (~440–420 million years ago), when tectonic forces fractured submarine fan sediments in the Victorian Goldfields. Hydrothermal fluids rich in silica and sulfides surged into these fractures, crystallizing quartz and depositing abundant pyrite.

Here, quartz crystallized in white, pink, black, and purple hues, sandwiched between host rock layers that preserve unusual pitted mineral textures. Meanwhile, pyrite dominated the mineralization, saturating the specimen and overshadowing the quartz crystals. These sulfide-rich veins are part of the mineralizing system historically mined for gold, silver, and antimony.

Most of the gold and silver is refractory, bound within sulfides like pyrite, though rare specimens with visible free gold are known.

This specimen is not sold as “gold ore.” It is a collector’s piece, valued for its pyrite dominance, quartz crystal variety, and unusual host rock textures — a mineral-rich fragment of the Victorian Goldfields.