This outstanding miniature specimen of realgar from the Jiepaiyu Mine, Shimen deposit in Hunan, China, features a striking cluster of well-terminated, gemmy crystals perched in an elegant and balanced arrangement on its natural host matrix. The luster is exceptional—sharp, glassy, and bright—amplifying the deep scarlet hue that makes realgar such a visual standout in fine mineral collections.
Renowned for producing some of the finest realgar specimens in the world, the Shimen deposit has become a benchmark locality for this species, and this piece is a strong representative of that legacy. The crystals exhibit excellent clarity and structural definition, with terminations intact and minimal damage. For a specimen of this size, the composition is particularly aesthetic—making it not just a superb example of realgar, but a museum-worthy miniature that transcends typical size-based expectations.
Highly collectible, this is a specimen that speaks both to the beauty of Chinese mineralogy and to the enduring allure of brilliantly crystallized arsenic sulfides. An ideal addition for collectors of world-class thumbnails and miniatures or for connoisseurs of Chinese classics.
