Nickelskutterudite (ex Al Kidwell Collection)

Item Description

This material for a time was referred to as "Chloanthite", which was once a valid species, but has now been discredited. Now this material is called Nickelskutterudite, which is nickel analogue Skutterudite. This is an impressive small cabinet sized specimen of Nickelskutterudite from the historic Schneeberg District in Germany. Fine quality, sharp, well-formed, lustrous, bright, silvery metallic crystals measuring up to 3 mm across are associated with minor Dolomite(?) on matrix. Fine quality, and best viewed up close. This is old-time and rare material that probably dates to the early 1900s. 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.