Columbite-(Fe) (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

The Foote Mine in North Carolina one of the great mineral localities in the United States, and is best known for its attractive and rare phosphate minerals. This piece is an exceptionally hard to find example of Columbite-(Fe), and one of only two 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 2.0 cm with minor matrix, but please note that the crystals are clearly broken on the edges, so the piece is not damage free. The front facing portion of the largest crystal is in good shape, so you can display the piece in a way that doesn't really show a lot of damage. A true rarity from this esteemed locale.
From the collection Jack Eaker (whose label says the specimen was identified by Jason Smith).