Manganite w/ Calcite (Matioli Coll.)

Item Description

A 2.5 cm, splendent, striated, jet-black manganite prism dominates this showy and aesthetic combination from this famous locale. At first glance, this looks like just a nice manganite specimen on its own. But more than that, the association 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, smaller, jet-black manganite prisms and lustrous, translucent calcite rhombs fill the sculptural curved vug. Faint orange 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. P.A Matioli Collection