Hematite (fine crystals)

Item Description

While Hematite is known from hundreds of world localities in fine examples, the pieces from South Africa are some of the best quality out there, and don't get enough attention in my mind. This beautiful showy thumbnail features gorgeous, fine quality, sharp, well-formed, trigonal silvery metallic crystals measuring 9 mm long, associated with contrasting white Calcite on matrix. The faces of the Hematite crystals are like razor-sharp, reflective little mirrors. The piece is in good condition with only a few small imperfections.
From the collection of William ("Bill") Pinch (August 15, 1940 - April 1, 2017) of Rochester, New York. Bill was one of the most knowledgeable and accomplished mineral collectors / amateur mineralogists of the 20th century, and he was the namesake for the rare mercury oxyhalide species, Pinchite. The prestigious Pinch medal, which is typically awarded at the Tucson Gem And Mineral Show by the Mineralogical Association of Canada is also named in his honor. You can read his bio at the following link ( http://www.williampinch.com/about ).