Tennantite

Classic tennantite cluster from the world-famous Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Highlands, Namibia. The specimen consists of sharp, well-developed grey metallic tennantite crystals forming a dense crystal cluster, displaying the characteristic tetrahedral to modified tetrahedral crystal forms and metallic luster typical of high-quality Tsumeb sulfosalts.

Tennantite is a copper arsenic sulfosalt, first described in 1819 and named in honour of Smithson Tennant, an English chemist and mineralogist. It forms as a primary mineral in hydrothermal polymetallic deposits, often crystallizing alongside other copper, lead, and zinc sulfides and sulfosalts.

The Tsumeb Mine is one of the most important localities worldwide for tennantite and related sulfosalts, renowned for producing exceptionally well-crystallized clusters. Tennantite from Tsumeb is considered classic reference material for the species, and compact crystal groups such as this are especially sought after by systematic collectors. At this locality, tennantite is commonly associated with other copper sulfosalts and sulfides typical of the Tsumeb orebody.

The specimen originates from the former collection of C. Strömpl, an amateur mineralogist.