Davidite-(Ce)

Item Description

Davidite is a very rare oxide with a unique formula that contains a veritable Who's Who of elements, namely Ce, Cr, F, Fe, H, O, Ti, U, V, Y. Relatively hard (6), crystals of Davidite are some mixture of black and brown, with a high, vitrous luster that can have an almost metallic sheen to it, as this specimen does. This crystallized thumbnail is exceptional for the species, and better in person. From an important old location, obtained from Fersman Geological Musuem in the 1990s (no label survives, but I recall the purchase).