Manganite (large crystal) (historic classic material - ex Harvard Museum)

Item Description

Manganite has been known at least since the 1820s. The first specimens were found at Ilfeld in Thuringia, Germany, and to this day, they are still regarded as the finest examples of the species known. These specimens are world famous for their impressive large crystals in fine form and quality, rarely seen from anywhere else in the world. Ilfeld is long defunct, and collectors are always on the hunt for these classic old specimens as they occasionally will appear on the market from old collections. Ilfeld Manganites are instantly recognizable with their beautiful heavily striated prismatic form and glistening luster. Here we have a fine miniature of this beloved material featuring a predominant, 4.0 cm long, classic, sharp, well-formed, thick, jet-black colored prismatic crystal of Manganite with the iconic "stepped" terminations sitting atop a "jackstraw"-esque group of smaller Manganite prisms free of matrix. I cannot see any damage of note to the main crystal, just a few small separation marks where previous Manganites once grew. Overall the piece is in very good condition and complete all around as displayed. Very good quality overall with such a fine robust crystal sitting at the high point of the specimen creating a very three-dimensional piece. It's not easy to obtain excellent miniature of Manganite from Ilfeld like this, so if you collect German species, old classics or "black" rocks, don't miss out on this one. The piece is accompanied by an old label from the "Crunden Collection" which went to Harvard Museum in the early 1900s (see: https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=1873) ! HUGE, significant crystal on this specimen! Valued in our inventory at $5,000.