Kidwellite (ex Kidwell Collection !) with RARE Opal-AN association

Item Description

This is a rare opportunity to obtain a mineral specimen from the collection of the individual for which the species was named. It should be noted that a long time ago, a good number of didn't get minerals named in their honor until after they died, so it's a relatively new trend to name minerals after people while they're still alive. Kidwellite is a relatively rare hydrated sodium iron phosphate species, and some of the most well-known specimens are those from the Coon Creek Mine in Arkansas. Many people mistakenly think that Coon Creek is the type locality for the species, but Kidwellite was actually first discovered at the lesser known Fodderstack Mountain locality near Norman, Arkansas. This a really cool specimen from arguably the premier locality for the Kidwellite, and it's even more desirable for the fact that it actually belonged to the namesake for the species, Al Kidwell. Al's hand-written label accompanies the specimen!
This piece hosts good quality, olive green colored spherical aggregates of Kidwellite measuring up to 1.0 cm (very good sized for the species and locality) sitting on black Goethite matrix. The outer layer of the Kidwell spheres is a light yellow layer of Cacoxenite, and if you look closely, you can see tiny pale lavender crystals of Strengite. The most interesting aspect of the piece to me is that there are some thin "wispy" white Opal-AN (formerly Hyalite Opal) fibers on the piece, which is quite rare in my experience with this material. The label states that the minerals are sitting on "roots", but I can't tell if this is a regional term for the matrix, or if the matrix was considered to be altered plant roots. If you collect phosphates or minerals of Arkansas, do not let this fantastic old timer pass you by. For reference, nothing has come out of this locality for decades as according to mindat.org it was "Restarted from earlier workings in 1956 & closed in 1959. Restarted 1972 and again in 1986 for specimens".
As mentioned, this piece is 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. Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974 ( https://www.mindat.org/photo-326405.html ).