Hydroboracite (fine rare crystals) with Colemanite

Item Description

A fantastic, highly displayable and superb quality specimen of Hydroboracite from the Thompson Mine (Thompson Shaft) in Death Valley. The small cabinet specimen hosts superb "tuft"-like crystals and radial "sprays" of gentle white colored Hydroboracite covering the majority of the front of the specimen, associated with Colemanite on matrix. The largest individual crystal measures about 8 mm. My favorite aspect of the piece are the beautiful, free-standing, isolated crystals up in the corner, very rare to see for the species. No major damage that I can find. Hydroboracite is not often seen in fine quality display specimens, and the pieces from the Thompson Mine are certainly some of the best examples that have been found. The old dealer label had this one priced at $400, but I honestly would put it much higher for the quality, in the $1,000 range.
From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds (#RR0146). 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.