Pinite (Mica pseudomorph after aluminosilicate mineral) (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

Please note that Pinite is no longer recognized as a valid species, and according to mindat.org is defined as pseudomorphs composed of sericite mica (usually muscovite) and clay group minerals replacing aluminosilicate minerals, especially cordierite, nepheline, topaz, andalusite, spodumene, feldspars and scapolite. Occasionally one will see older specimens from various localities in the United States and Europe labeled as Pinite, but it doesn't take away from the fact that this material is rare regardless of how it is defined. This piece features a few brown colored "Pinite" crystals measuring up to 1.9 cm long sitting atop a syenite matrix containing purplish-red Eudialyte and black Arfvedsonite. I've seen a handful of "Pinite" specimens from Norway, Sweden and Finland over the years, but this is the FIRST piece I've seen from Greenland! From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016) with a hand-written label from an unknown collection. David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered.