Melanophlogite (very rare silica clathrate) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Melanophlogite is a very rare species, with a unique chemical composition. It was actually the first known example of a natural clathrasil (or silica clathrate). A clathrate is a chemical substance consisting of a lattice that traps or contains molecules. The species might be best known from the Fortullino locality in Tuscany, Italy where it is found amorphous "bead"-like formations, and almost looks like suspended colorless water droplets on matrix. This piece is from the famous Mount Hamilton locality in California and is a wonderful example of this rare and unusual species featuring a rich coverage of sharp, lustrous, white colored Melanophlogite crystals on host rock matrix. A must have for any rare species collector or a fan of minerals with unusual chemistry. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#). Kay was a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics. She nearly lived 100 years from April 1920 - March 2020. See the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record ( https://www.mineralogicalrecor... ), and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017.