Cassiterite (rare) Scripps & Larson Coll.

Item Description

VERY RARE, old matrix cassiterite from the renowned Himalaya Mine. A pristine, sharp, 1.7 cm, crystal is jauntily set on the sawed small cabinet quartz and feldspar matrix with two more complete cassiterite crystals on the right side. The lustrous tetragonal crystal is black, with hints of reddish color visible under bright light. Cassiterite is a rare accessory from the Himalaya and matrix specimens are exceptionally so. See the 1977 Mineralogical Record California Issue! article in Vol. 8, No. 6. This fine old piece dates to the 1970s, when Ralph Potter owned the mine, prior to Pala Properties (Bill Larson) buying the mine in 1977. Formerly in the Josie Scripps Collection. Josie was a prominent California collector and benefactor of minerals and this comes with her label; and Bill Larson's handwriting on the back. Read about Josie at: https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/scrippsjosephine/. Ex Bill Larson San Diego County Pegmatite Collection and long on display at his Pala International shop in Fallbrook. A rare Himalaya Mine matrix cassiterite with a fine provenance.