Ludlamite (large specimen - classic material)

Item Description

Ludlamite is an uncommon iron phosphate mineral, and fine specimens are really only found in a handful of classic localities around the world. The first specimens found were the classic from Cornwall, England, which are well-known but virtually non-existent on the market, and more contemporary pieces from places like Huanuni, Bolivia; Santa Eulalia, Mexico and Trepča, Kosovo are also very hard to find these days. Without a doubt, the finest Ludlamites from any North American locality are those from the Blackbird Mine in Idaho. This piece is one of the largest single specimens of the material that we've had to offer from this famous old locality, featuring a rich coverage of gemmy, rather sharp, fine light green colored crystals measuring to about 3 mm, sitting atop a thin layer of matrix 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. The piece comes with a label from Les Presmyk / De Natura valuing at $2,250, but in today's market, I would put it closer to $4,000.
The piece comes with an old label from the University of Arizona (#13978) and was donated by Russell M. Honea (1929–2002) who was a well-known mineralogist from Colorado.