MANGANITE & Calcite (superb, rare old combo) Trimingham Coll.

Item Description

At first glance, this looks like just a nice Manganite specimen on its own. But more than that, the matrix adds value and interest. Calcite is the second most common gangue species, after barite, in the manganese veins at the famed Ilfeld locality which has produced best of species manganites, but is RARE in display-quality specimens. One supposes that many, if ever found, might have been dissolved away with acid to expose the manganites. This one is a survivor, though! Lustrous, striated, jet-black manganite prisms, to a respectable 3 cm, are aesthetically scattered in the large sculptural matrix of lustrous, translucent, calcite rhombs. The large rhomb at the top is 3.9 cm across. Periphery wear and a bit of bruising to the calcite rhombs are noted, but are certainly only modest visual detractions to this important combination old-timer. Moderate neon orange-pink fluorescence to the calcite is a bonus! These old pieces came out in about 1865-1890. See the excellent Mineralogical Record article in 2010 Vol. 41, No. 6. Ex Bob Trimingham Collection and formerly in the Paul Jung Collection, according to Bob's label. Valued at $2500-3500