Phlogopite with Anthophyllite and Tremolite, plus ''Chlorite'' (''Heřmanov Sphere'')

Item Description

What a unique and interesting specimen from the Czech Republic. These specimens have been known since at least the 1800s at Heřmanov, and were given the nickname "Heřmanov Spheres". I can't remember seeing anything quite like them from anywhere else. They are scarce on the market today, and if you collect unique/esoteric minerals, this is something interesting that would make a great addition to your collection. The piece features a central "core" of spherical dark brassy-brown colored Phlogopite Mica which is surrounded by a light sage green colored layer of "Chlorite" (possibly Clinochlore) and then the outer layer consists of Tremolite and Anthophyllite. It should be noted that for a long time, the mineral on the outer layer of these "spheres" was thought to only be Anthophyllite, but a 2006 paper by Majzlan and Grapes states, "Our work indicates that the Heřmanov nodules contain both tremolite and anthophyllite, despite the long-held belief (cf. Brezina 1874) that the amphibole is exclusively anthophyllite". We have listed both Tremolite and Anthophyllite occurring on this specimen.