Bustamite (good sized crystal) with Galena

Item Description

Bustamite is an uncommon calcium manganese silicate mineral, and certainly the finest examples ever found are those from Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. The species is notably diverse from this area, as I've seen crystals that range from red to reddish-brown, red-orange, salmon-pink, white and even lilac, with habits ranging from big/thick/blocky to thin and acicular. Typically a good-sized Bustamite is a few cm from this area, but this piece hosts a nearly 7 cm crystal, with fairly sharp, well-formed faces along with waxy luster with a bit of associated Galena. The internal color is a deep pinkish-brown hue, best seen with strong backlighting on the edges. A few sides of the crystal are not complete, presumably where it either grew against the pocket wall, or another Bustamite underground. If you collect minerals from the prolific locality, or you're just a fan of impressive display specimens of lesser-seen minerals, this is a great piece to add to your collection.
From the collection of Gerry Morvell.