Rutile on ''Turgite''

Item Description

The fine quality and classic Rutile crystals from Graves Mountain in Georgia are some of the finest examples of the species from any locality in the Western Hemisphere. They are easily recognizable, and have a distinctive appearance, and can often be found in larger than average sized crystals. This toenail sized specimen features a rather sharp crystal with lustrous faces that show a metallic, silvery-reddish color measuring 1.1 cm, sitting atop rainbow iridescent "Turgite" (Goethite/Hematite) matrix. An eye-catching overall piece, and a great example of this well known (and increasingly hard to find) material. The faces of the Rutile crystal are notably smooth and well-formed, with none of the undesirable surface crazing that is sometimes seen with these pieces.
This piece comes from the personal collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman, the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. Dave is now retired from mining, but he worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and foreman. His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar. This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality. A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".