Datolite (var Botryolite) with Axinite-(Mn) (ex Richard Kosnar and Pat Gross Collections)

Item Description

This specimen came originally from the noted collection of New Jersey collector, Frances Patricia "Pat" Gross. The piece is identified as being "Bothryolite", which is a botryoidal variety of Datolite. The specimen hosts a few micro whitish "balls" of "Botryolite" which are associated with small, gemmy, bright yellow, bladed crystals of Axinite-(Mn) with pink Rhodonite and even a gemmy striated colorless crystal of Willemite! PLEASE NOTE that the "Botryolite" is on the REVERSE side of the specimen, while the other species are on the "front" side. This is one of two pieces of this material that I have offered in the auctions, and would certainly make a great addition to any micro collection, or a suite of minerals from Franklin. The piece remains in Pat's original black plastic micro-mounting box with her hand written label attached. The specimens came to Rich Kosnar in the early 1990s, as Pat was one of Kosnar's mentors when he was in high school / college. The label on the box says that the piece was acquired from legendary mineral dealer Charlie Key in 1963.