Phosphohedyphane (RARE locality specimen) (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

An exceptionally hard to find specimen of the rare calcium lead phosphate species Phosphohedyphane from the famous Blue Bell Mine in San Bernardino County, California. This attractive piece hosts dozens of soft yellow color botryoidal groups with individual "balls" measuring up to 3 mm sitting on Quartz and host rock matrix. This is the FIRST and ONLY specimen of this material that we've ever had to offer from this locality, and it's a must have for any fan of rare minerals, obscure locality specimens or minerals from California. It could be a very long time before we have another one of these to offer, so don't let this one pass. It's important to note that there may be many other examples of this species in old collections labeled as "calcian pyromorphite", but they're very likely to be Phosphohedyphane. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011. I would value this one in the $800-$1,000 range for the quality and extreme rarity from the locality.