Gahnite (rare Spinel species) (ex Allen Heyl Collection)

Item Description

An interesting and rarely seen Gahnite specimen from a pegmatite locality in Taos County, New Mexico of all places! A few rich green color, sharp, lustrous, octahedral crystals of the rare zinc-bearing Spinel species, Gahnite sit on lithium pegmatite / Lepdiolite matrix. The largest Gahnite crystal measures 4 mm across. It should be noted that specimens of Gahnite are not terribly common, and this piece is the only specimen from the Harding Mine that I've had to offer. The piece is from the Allen V. Heyl Collection, who was a friend of a the Kosnar family and for whom the species Aheylite was named.