Rutile on Pyrophyllite

Item Description

This a wonderful old-time Champion Mine Rutile specimen featuring a good sized, rather sharp, well-formed, dark red colored crystal measuring 4.3 cm across sitting beautifully on Pyrophyllite matrix. I love the broad, smooth faces on the top of the Rutile crystal, you don't see too many like this. One side of the Rutile is contacted, presumably where it was separated from the pocket wall, but it's still a very attractive and impressive example of these beloved pieces from this old California mine. Some of the best Rutile crystals from any US locality come from the Champion Mine. Valued at $1,500. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds. 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.