Cookeite "cast" after Spodumene (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

A strange and rarely seen "cast" of Cookeite Mica completely replacing a preexisting crystal of Spodumene. The specimen is completely hollow inside retaining the original form of the Spodumene crystal. This phenomenon is often referred to as a "cast" or epimorph for many years, but recently it has been suggested that these specimens be referred to as peirmorphs. With that said, this piece started out as a single crystal of Spodumene, later coated by Cookeite, and then the Spodumene was dissolved away leaving the hollow cavity behind. OLD material and HARD TO FIND on the market! Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#613). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).