Magnetite (rare cubic habit)

Item Description

When people think of mining in Balmat, New York, the first thing that they will think of are the classic Magnetite crystals. While Magnetite is a well-known sulfide species, it's not considered rare, and it's incredibly hard to well-crystallized display specimens. The pieces from the CCA Mine No. 4 in Balmat, New York are in the top tier for the species partially because of their rare cubic habit, and the fact that they are larger than average and very well-formed. The fact that they are predominantly cubic in habit is certainly uncommon for the species, but they also show attractive tetrahexahedral modifications. This small cabinet specimen is a great example of said material featuring sharp, metallic, jet black crystals measuring up to 1.3 cm on edge, sitting on matrix. While the crystals are predominantly cubic in habit, they do feature some tetrahexahedral modifications, which is also rarely seen in Magnetite. These specimens were collected in the early 1990s, and are not common on the market today. This piece is in fairly good condition, but there are some contacts, so it's not perfect. If you've ever wanted a piece of these classic Magnetites, be sure to pick this one up. From the collection of Gerry Morvell.