Cassiterite (rare locality specimen) (ex Bill Larson Collection)

Item Description

A rarely seen Cassiterite specimen from a locality that is not well-known outside of Southern California. This piece features a sharp, well-formed, grey-black colored, "wedge"-shaped crystal of Cassiterite measuring 1.2 cm long, sitting on iron-stained Feldspar matrix. The crystal is not 100% pristine, but it's legitimately the first and only Cassiterite that we've ever had to offer from this locality, and has the added distinction of being collected by noted California collector, Al Ordway. From the collection of Bill Larson of Fallbrook, California. Bill is a well-known gem and mineral dealer as well as a miner and collector. Bill is synonymous with minerals of San Diego County, and owned and operated famous mines such as the Stewart Lithia, the Tourmaline Queen, the Pala Chief and the Himalaya, producing some of the most iconic mineral specimens to come out of the area during the 1970s-1980s. You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/