Rheniite (rare - Type Locality)

Item Description

Rheniite is the only known mineral with Rhenium as its primary metallic constituent and as such is a fascinating species. Very rare, worldwide, it occurs at a volcanic vent in this remote area of Far East Russia (Type Locality), and scientists have to climb down into hot crevasses to find the stuff. Rich fields, to 4.3 cm, with lots of silvery bright microcrystalline rheniite are noted on three sides of the large volcanic matrix. Brought out of Russia in the late 1990s, I have not seen many for sale since. These usually sell for $500-1000, when they turn up on the market again.