Brookite on Quartz (classic material) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

When it comes to Brookite, the crystals from Magnet Cove, Arkansas are distinctive in the mineral world. I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the thin tabular bladed crystals from the European Alps and Pakistan, but the Arkansas crystals are notably thick and more equant in habit. Additionally, virtually all of the crystals from this locality are jet black, reminiscent of Cassiterite. While a good number of these piece were found over the years, in my mind the standard that sets apart the good from the great pieces in my mind is luster. The crystals on this specimen have superb luster with very shiny reflective faces. They are also rather well-formed and sharp, and not "rounded" like some can be from Magnet Cove. The largest Brookite is actually a composite group which measures 1.0 cm across and they sitting atop grey prismatic Quartz matrix. The largest Brookite group on the left side of the specimen is contacted on the back, but it's in good shape on the front. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#5797). 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.