Phosphophyllite (ca. 1940s)

Item Description

This specimen is part of the 2020 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium benefit auction, with proceeds benefiting Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, and mindat.org. Thanks to all of our participants!

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, August 24, for payment using PayPal or credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost, or please contact brandy@mineralauctions.com if you'd like to plan on picking up items at future shows or during a stop through Dallas.

Click here for a video of this specimen!

Phosphophyllite specimens from Potosi, Bolivia, are some of the most coveted specimens within the collecting world. Both its habit and color characterize this gorgeous phosphate mineral. This sharply twinned 4.4g crystal exemplifies the superbness of crystal faces for the species. Display-quality Phosphophyllites are a rare commodity, especially since the majority of the great material came out over 70 years ago! Furthermore, most of them are in collections and only make it to the market when released during a sale of an older collection. This fabulous 3.2cm crystal has two tiny dings on the termination and some contacting on the backside but is complete on the front view and shows the color and the famous twinning well. The sides are flat from either contact or old cleaves from the pocket, as many crystals are found this way (the species has perfect cleavage). The aesthetics and scarcity of Phosphophyllite crystals make them highly desirable among collectors! This is relatively large for a specimen on the market in recent years, and is indeed a small miniature or toenail size class. It is valued around $10,000. If you have not seen one in person yet, you cannot imagine the unique, eye-catching color...it is special, unsurpassed after 70 years. This was obtained many years ago, directly from Bolivia where it had been in a safe box stash for decades.
Donated by The Arkenstone.