Columbite-(Fe) (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

The Foote Mine in North Carolina is best known for its attractive and rare phosphate minerals, but this is an exceptionally hard to find example of Columbite-(Fe), the only one we've ever seen from the locality. Columbite-(Fe) is not truly a rare mineral, but it's almost impossible to find specimens from the Foote Mine on the market. This piece hosts jet-black lustrous crystals of Columbite-(Fe) measuring up to 1.7 cm on matrix, but please note that the crystals are clearly broken on the upper edge, so the piece is not damage free. The front facing portions of the crystals are in good shape, so you can display the piece in a way that doesn't really show the damage. A true rarity from this esteemed locale. From the collection Jack Eaker (whose label says the specimen was identified by Jason Smith).