Manganite (Type Locality - 1800s)

Item Description

Striking, classic, robust small cabinet cluster of splendent, striated, jet-black manganite prisms nicely accented with a bit of contrasting, oxide-tinted barite from the old 1880s finds at Ilfeld. The imposing, stout large crystal is 5.4 cm long and the slender, adjacent angled crystal is 5.8 cm long on the "front" and crystals on the back reach 6.0 cm. The piece is solid crystallized manganite all-around and this historic old-timer is NOT just a "black rock" by any means. It displays impressively and dramatically. The noted bruising and contacting is acceptable in the context of this old-timer. Primary production was from 1820 until 1890. See the 2010 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 41, No. 6. Fine crystals, good size and high luster make this an excellent and highly representative small cabinet. Large specimens like this are hard to come by, today.