Hellyerite (ridiculously rare)

Item Description

Hellyerite is a ridiculously rare hydrated nickel carbonate mineral, only found in THREE places on Earth. The species was named after Henry Hellyer, an explorer from Australia and former Surveyor-General of the Van Diemen’s Land Company. This piece is from the type locality, but it should be noted that the entry on mindat.org states, "Hellyerite is relatively unstable and, if not kept in an air-tight environment, the (originally) blue mineral decomposes in time to an X-ray amorphous, zaratite-like green phase". With that said, it does look as though this piece has altered in Zaratite, and the species is even listed on the label for this specimen. Unfortunately it was never kept in an air-tight environment, so whatever alterations have taken place are done. Still a great rarity, incredibly hard to find on the market, and if you collect minerals from the type locality, don't miss out on this one. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.