Braunite (rare) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Braunite is a rare manganese silicate species, and some of the best crystals ever found are those from the N'Chwaning Mines in South Africa. This miniature specimen features several mirror bright, razor-sharp, dark steel-grey colored tetragonal crystals measuring up to about 3 mm associated with reddish Andradite on matrix. Many of the crystals are completely undamaged, but some on the outer edge are contacted. The quality is superb for the species, as the high luster and incredibly well-formed crystals are rarely seen like this, regardless of size. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#12682). Kay was a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics. She nearly lived 100 years from April 1920 - March 2020. See the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record ( https://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/Kay%20Robertson%20Collection.pdf ), and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017.