Tennantite - Tristetrahedron with Dodecahedron and Tetrahedron
Based on a specimen from Zacatecas, Mexico.
Most of the crystal models I make are chosen for the simple reason that I find the particular combination of crystal forms attractive. This little tennantite crystal is no exception, and as soon as I saw it under magnification I decided it needed a model that was easily visible to the naked eye. This one exhibits three crystal forms, a tristetrahedron, dodecahedron, and tetrahedron.
I just have to mention that the tristetrahedron faces are made from some of the most beautiful wood I have ever worked with. It’s curly wormy maple, and the combination of color, pattern, and shine is like nothing I’ve seen. I bought as much of this material as I could, and I have a small pile stashed away for other projects.
At the beginning of my model making career, I concentrated almost exclusively on the crystals belonging to the hexoctahedral class of the isometric system. It’s the class with the highest symmetry, so the forms were the easiest to model, and often the easiest to cut and assemble. Due to the high symmetry, angles were repeated, face shapes were relatively symmetrical, and sharp points were kept to a minimum. As I branched out from the hexoctahedral class, things became a little more complicated, but the reduced symmetry of the hextetrahedral class has a beauty all its own. The models I have made of minerals from this class are some of my favorites.
One of my all-time favorites (although not made by me!) is this tristetrahedron handbag.
Also see this zunyite crystal and this twinned sphalerite crystal (links to come)
Model details: 6" across. Tristetrahedron faces are curly wormy maple. Dodecahedron faces are Brazilian rosewood. Tetrahedron faces are padauk.
Specimen details: Tennantite on quartz. Zacatecas, Mexico. 4mm crystal.