Albite var. Andesine (old)

Item Description

Mineral specimens of any variety are RARE from this ancient polymetamorphic iron sulphide deposit, hosted in cordierite-garnet gneiss that is disseminated by quartz veins. First documented mining took place in 1436 and continued intermittently until 1962 (MINDAT). Andesine specimens are EXTREMELY RARE. A 5.3 cm, sharp, blocky, lustrous black-skinned crystal is jauntily set in massive quartz matrix with a few micro pyrrhotites. Part of the crystal is contacted, with no damage, per se. The right side of the crystal is cleaved, which shows the highly lustrous, partially translucent, jade-green interior. A RARE and desirable old classic. The German label has a December 24, 1921 date.