Metaswitzerite (superb rare specimen)

Item Description

A superb and very rarely seen full cabinet sized specimen of Metaswitzerite from the renowned Foote Lithium Company Mine in North Carolina. This locality beloved for its superb crystallized phosphates, and it's one of the premier phosphate localities in the US. It's also the type locality for the rare manganese phosphate Metaswitzerite, which was named in honor of George S. Switzer, the former Curator of Minerals at the Smithsonian Institution. Originally, the species was named Switzerite, but the entry on mindat.org states, "Switzerite rapidly and irreversibly dehydrates in air within minutes to Metaswitzerite which contains only 4 water molecules per formula unit. All "switzerites" in collections should be considered metaswitzerites". Here we have a fantastic specimen this rare classic material featuring a big (2.1 cm) "spray"-like group comprising lustrous, well-formed, bronze colored "needle"-like crystals on Albite matrix. These are euhedral CRYSTALS of Metaswitzerite (not massive "smears" or micro aggregates), and I believe it's the largest single group on matrix we've ever had to offer. A must-have for any fan of rare minerals, specimens from the Foote Mine, or minerals from the type locality. I value this one highly, in the range of $3,000-$4,000 for its superb quality and size.
From the collection Jack Eaker (whose label says the specimen was identified by Jason Smith).