Ludlamite (fine classic crystals)

Item Description

Ludlamite is an uncommon iron phosphate, and there are only a handful of classic localities for the species around the world. The old Cornish crystals are well-known but virtually non-existent on the market, and more contemporary pieces from places like Huanuni, Bolivia; Santa Eulalia, Mexico and Trepca, Kosovo are also very hard to find. Certainly the finest Ludlamites from any North American locality are those from the Blackbird Mine in Idaho. This piece is a wonderful example of this well-known material featuring a rich coverage of very gemmy, razor-sharp, fine green colored crystals measuring to about 3 mm, sitting atop a layer of brown Siderite with minor golden metallic Pyrite. Nearly all of the crystals are undamaged, and look fantastic under magnification, as they have superb euhedral form with wedge-shaped terminations. Old material, dating back to the 1960s, and the no more will ever be found as the mine is long closed.
This piece is from the collection of the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado, Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007). He was the namesake for the rare zirconium phosphate species, Kosnarite.