Magnetite (rare cubic habit)

Item Description

Magnetite is one of those species that everybody knows, but you don't see many good examples in most collections. The pieces from Balmat, New York are some of the most distinctive and unique Magnetites from any North American locality. The unique cubic habit is rare for the species, which combined with larger sized crystals makes them very desirable. This attractive toenail sized specimen features over 2 dozen very sharp, highly lustrous, jet-black, beautiful cubic crystals (some showing VERY minor but equally rare tetrahexahedral modifications) sitting atop contrasting white Dolomite-bearing matrix. The largest crystal measures 1.0 cm on edge. It's not easy to get showy matrix pieces of this material like this. Yes, there are some contacts, so the piece is not completely pristine, but it's still aesthetic and well-balanced. These pieces came out years ago, and you just can't find these specimens on the market anymore. If you're a fan of metallic minerals, US minerals, or even New York minerals, don't pass this one up. This one was priced at $850 in the inventory.