large Cryolite (Type Locality) w/ Siderite, Pyrite, etc (Burgess Coll.)

Item Description

An impressive large cryolite specimen from the famous extinct Type Locality in Greenland. Massive white to gray translucent cryolite hosts typical accessories of cleavages of brown siderite rhombs, golden pyrite and black sphalerite on all three sides of the sculptural large specimen. This rare Na-Al halide was originally used as aluminium ore and later in the electrolytic processing of the aluminium ore bauxite. A large, rich and highly representative example of this rare species in combination. Old material, mostly from the 1800s and early 1900s. Faint pink fluorescence. Ex David Burgess Collection, for whom Burgessite is named.