Olmiite (rare) with Bultfonteinite

Item Description

Outside of the pieces from the N'Chwaning Mines, most people would have never seen a crumb of Olmiite. This species, despite its noteworthy presence on the market for the past several years, is a remarkably rare mineral, which has only been found in four mines in the world! The N'Chwaning specimens are iconic and world class, as collectors have seen exemplary representations of this gorgeous calcium manganese silicate. It's important to note that Olmiite has only been a valid species since 2006, so it's one of the more significant discoveries in decades as most new species are often microscopic and not terribly colorful. Keep in mind that virtually all of these specimens were labeled as being Poldervaartite several years ago, which now is an exceptionally rare species, and only confirmed in a select few instances. This piece features a coverage of small beige colored crystals of Olmiite measuring up to 6 mm, associated with white "needles" of Bultfonteinite on matrix. The crystals are best seen under magnification. Fine quality and just beautiful.
From the collection of Gerry Morvell with an old dealer label, both of which refer to the piece as "Poldervaartite".