Ferberite with Quartz (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

A beautiful association specimen from the famous Yaogangxian Mine in China reminiscent of the similar pieces from the famous Panasqueira Mine in Portugal or the Tae Hwa Mine in South Korea. This small cabinet features sharp, well-formed, striated, jet-black, bladed crystals of Ferberite in a semi-layered formation associated with prismatic, colorless, GEM QUALITY Quartz crystals. Flipping the piece over you can see it is covered by almost micro crystals of compressed "blades" of what I believe to be either Siderite or Calcite. The piece is in superb condition, as the only point of attachment is on the base, but otherwise crystallized all around. No major damage that I can see with the naked eye. When it comes to crystallized Ferberite, the Yaogangxian Mine is the source of some of the most impressive and attractive specimens extant. This is not a "black rock", but rather a fine crystallized example of a species that although is well-known, is rarely seen in excellent quality examples like this from any world locality. Valued in the inventory at $700. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011.