Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

A specimen of what was labeled simply as Columbite (now defined as the Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series) from an undisclosed locality in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The piece has several very sharp, well-formed faces, though there is a bit of roughness on the top an bottom edges. The reflective luster (not terribly common for the species) combined with that rich jet-black hue really make the piece shine when you hold it in your hands. My favorite aspect of the specimen is the fact that there is a crystal of beige colored Muscovite frozen into the back of the Columbite. It's completely flush against the surface, and almost looks like it was painted on, but it makes me think of a phenocryst. You don't see a lot of Columbite crystals on the market like this anymore, and if you collect niobates, this is a great piece to add your collection. From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered. The piece is accompanied by a label stating it was part of the Bill Shelton Collection at one point.