Legrandite

Item Description

Legrandite is one of those Holy Grails of rare and significant mineral species but also something of appeal to others simply for beauty alone. This is a very rare matrix Legrandite from the type locality for the species, which is NOT the Ojuela Mine as most people think! Rather, this is from a small earlier find in Nuevo Leon; a completely different district and location! Sometimes we get small examples of these crystals, to a few mm, rarely on good display matrix. This is an exceptional piece for the locality, however, with a 1.5 cm radial divergent cluster of Legrandite perched at the top left of the specimen, and several other crystals scattered about the piece. The radial spray consists of at least two dozen gemmy, lustrous, yellow prismatic crystals that actually resemble gem pocket Mimetites from Tsumeb - they're that good! These crystals are huge for the locality, and this is a very significant small-cabinet piece from old finds here. There are several other smaller clusters and isolated crystals inside and around the periphery of the vug. The large cluster along with other Legrandites within the vug are in perfect condition, with the pocket as protector of the treasure within. It has to be one of the better surviving matrix examples, in this size range. It was named in 1932 by Julien Drugman and Max H. Hey in honor of Mr. LeGrand, a Belgium mining engineer and mineral collector who collected the first specimens at the Flor de Pena, presumably in the early 1900s. Ex. Wouter van Tichelen collection with his label. Valued $3000-4000.