Dufrenite (old, rare - classic locale) Robertson Coll.

Item Description

Dufrenite, an uncommon complex hydrated Ca-Fe phosphate, is a rare and desirable accessory species from the famous Phoenix Mine. I had never seen but micros, and uglier examples of the species in brown color from other mines. However, this piece is a relative (and large) beauty! The numerous vugs on both sides of this extremely rich and showy old-time two-sided plate are lined with lustrous, translucent, rich forest-green, bladed botryoids to 2-3 mm. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 8935 and acquired from Ron Bentley at the Tucson Show in 1980. Kay is a knowledgeable and very 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). Comes with an old 100+ year-old label. The mine closed in 1913. Note entry on MINDAT showing a few similar specimens, thought not as rich.