Masutomilite (RARE Mica species!)

Item Description

Masutomilite is an incredibly rare Mica species, only found in about a dozen places in the world. The mineral was named after Dr. Kazunosuke Masutomi in 1977. This piece is from the type locality for the species, the Tanakami Yama Mountain (specifically the Sasamage-Dake granitic pegmatite) near Otsu City. This specimen is the FIRST piece we've ever had to offer of this material from the type locality. You'd never know it was a rare species by looking at it, since it's so similar in appearance to common Mica minerals like Muscovite. This miniature sized pieces features thin, layered / foliated crystals of Masutomilite on minor Feldspar matrix. The color of the Masutomilite crystals ranges is soft silvery-lilac hue, but there seems to be a coating of a beige colored species (possibly some kind of Feldspar?) on the exterior edges of the crystals, creating an interesting two-tone effect. If you collect minerals from the type locality, rare species, or you're just a fan of interesting pegmatite minerals, don't pass this one up, as we likely will not have another one like it again anytime soon.