Polydymite (rare and fine) (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

Certainly this is the finest example of Polydymite that I've offered from the Madziwa Mine (Dry Nickel Mine) in Zimbabwe or any other mine for that matter! This rare nickel sulfide species is a member of both the Linnaeite Group, and the Thiospinel Group. It has been reported from dozens of world localities, but the crystals are often < 1 mm, and sometimes are only observed in minute uncrystallized "threads". This piece however features large, robust, splendent, shimmering bright steel-grey colored octahedra measuring up to a whopping 1.4 cm (!) associated with a bit of massive white Calcite on host rock matrix. The main crystal group (it's a composite crystal with several intergrown faces) is superb for the species, and it is in superb condition. I've never had anything close to this in terms of size and quality, and if you collect sulfides, this is a must have specimen in my mind. Valued at $1,750, and well worth it for any species collector. From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered.