Britholite-(Ce) with Tornebohmite-(Ce) and Allanite-(Ce) (very rare combo) (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

I’ve only seen a handful of these specimens, and this piece is by far the best from the area that I know of. This specimen was personally collected by Richard A. Kosnar on April 15, 1973. It features brownish areas of the uncommon phosphate, Britholite-(Ce) associated with greenish-grey Törnebohmite-(Ce) which are surrounded by dark bands of Allanite-(Ce) and associated with unusual streaks of translucent brown Smoky Quartz and intermixed with so-called pinkish-tan “Cerite” and greyish Microcline. The specimen was analyzed by Gene Foord years ago, and in his communication with Kosnar mentioned that “Cerite” on the piece may actually be Bastnasite. If you collect this material, don’t miss out on this specimen, as I do not know of a better one out there. From the collection of Richard A. Kosnar, well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado, and the namesake for the phosphate species, Kosnarite.