Brookite (rare locality specimen) (ex Charlie Key Collection)

Item Description

Here we have another rarity from the Poudrette Quarry, Brookite! This piece is a thumbnail, but it has a lot going for it as it features a beautiful, sharp, lustrous group of hexagonal di-pyramids (these are sometimes called "Arkansite") sitting on feldspar and host rock matrix. The group measures about 3.5 mm across, but the individual crystals are small. I read that this particular habit might actually have a connection to the higher than average amount of niobium in the crystals, but I don't know if this is true or not. I think this might be the first piece of Brookite that I've offered in the auctions from Mont Saint-Hilaire, and this piece would make a great addition to any rarities suite, a thumbail collection, or a collection of minerals from this storied locality. It is now difficult to obtain specimens from this locality as collecting has been limited / reduced in recent years, so if you collect minerals from this world famous prolific locality, don't miss out on this attractive thumbnail. From the collection of renowned mineral dealer, Charlie Key, the namesake for Keyite and Ludlockite.