Muscovite / Lepidolite (ex Al Kidwell Collection)

Item Description

A rarely seen Mica specimen from the old Harding Mine in northern New Mexico. The label accompanying this piece states it is Lepidolite (which is unfortunately no long a valid species), but I've seen several of these (including one in the New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum labeled as Muscovite. I did read a posting several years ago (I believe on mindat) that apparently all of the pink Mica from this mine is Muscovite, which is interesting due to the unusual color. Without analysis, it's difficult to determine the true identity of the piece, but I'm leaning more towards the Muscovite side. Sparkling, almost pearlescent groups of attractive, translucent Muscovite cover the underlying Albite matrix. Very hard to find on the market, and if you collect minerals from the U.S. or worldwide Mica species, then don't miss out on this beautiful small cabinet display specimen. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.