Eucryptite (rare CRYSTALS)

Item Description

Eucryptite is a rare silicate species, and while it has been known since the 1880s, specimens are rarely seen on the market. The species gets its name from Greek meaning "well concealed", as it was initially difficult to see in the first known specimens because it was often surrounded by or implanted inside of Albite. Most examples of Eucryptite are typically not even crystallized, but the famed Foote Lithium Mine in North Carolina produced a small amount of the best CRYSTALS of the species ever found. This specimen features small (1 mm give or take) crystals of sharp, well-formed, translucent, white/colorless Eucryptite with an almost pseudo-isometric habit (they're actually trigonal) sitting on matrix. We have photographed the tiny crystals with a Canon MP-E 65 mm macro lens to better illustrate the quality. It's important to note that not only are euhedral crystals of Eucryptite rare, but according to Jason Smith's post on mindat.org, "Most Eucryptite at the Foote Mine, although still the best examples of the species on earth, suffers from severe etching and partial pseudomorphing to swinefordite and other clays", so this is a significant piece featuring un-etched, un-altered Eucryptite crystals. There are some small golden metallic crystals of what I assume to be Pyrite, though they could be Chalcopyrite. I can't find another specimen in any database that features these crystals, and I'm not expert in Foote Mine material, so perhaps someone else out there can shed some light on this one. If you collect rarities or specifically minerals from the well-known Foote Mine, don't miss out on this beauty. From the collection Jack Eaker (whose label says the specimen was identified by Jason Smith).