Cryolite (TYPE LOCALITY)

Item Description

This massive chunk of Cryolite (292 grams) is from the famous, now extinct, TYPE LOCALITY in Greenland. Quite substantial in size, this single piece is translucent, white, and has good luster in parts. A rare Na-Al halide, Cryolite was originally used as aluminum ore and later in the electrolytic processing of the aluminum ore bauxite. Old material, mostly from the 1800s and early 1900s, this small cabinet specimen is highly representative of the species. From MINDAT: "A curious mineral. The colourless material seemingly disappears in water due to the proximity of their refractive indices.Historically, cryolite was used as an aluminium ore and later in the electrolytic processing of the aluminium ore bauxite....Ivigtut was the World's only mine for cryolite, used as a solvent of bauxite in aluminium production and before that to produce opaline glass." These pieces are part of a century-old Italian collection that was recently acquired.