Delindeite (extremely rare) (ex Henry de Linde Collection)

Item Description

Delindeite is an extremely rare hydrated sodium potassium barium calcium titanium iron aluminum silicate only found in four places in the world. This particular specimen is from the type locality, the Diamond Jo Quarry at Magnet Cove, which just happened to be owned by the namesake for the species, Henry de Linde. This piece is from de Linde's personal collection, and according to the label was collected in 1996. Now this is a micro specimen, as the tiny crystals truly can only be seen under the microscope, but upon close inspection, one can see small soft pinkish-brown colored crystals of Delindeite associated with notably orange colored crystals of Labuntsovite-Mn on syenite matrix. One of the photos shows a pair of semi-"rosette"-like groups of an unknown yellow-orange colored mineral (possibly Lourenswalsite?). A must have for anybody who collects minerals from the type locality, or species named after important figures in the mineral world. It's incredibly rare to have a species named for an individual who just happened to own the locality where it was first found. From the collection of Henry de Linde (March 21, 1923 – April 4, 2019) of Hot Spring, Arkansas. Henry was one of the most prominent figures in the history of Arkansas mining and mineral collecting. Along with being a miner, mineral collector and an amateur mineralogist, de Linde was one of the founders of the Coon Creek Association mineral club. He was the owner of several key localities in Arkansas including the Diamond Jo Quarry (on the south rim of Magnet Cove), the type locality for Delindeite, which was named in his honor in 1987.