Schalenblende stalactites (classic old locale) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

Curved, intergrown, finger-like stalactites of lustrous, brownish-gray schalenblende form an amazingly whimsical 360-degree, hand-shaped small cabinet from this well-known old lead-zinc mine, that closed in 1953. Every turn presents a distinctly different perspective to the artistic "fingers". Schalenblende is the striking concentric layers with reniform surfaces consisting of alternating bands of sphalerite (brown to yellow), marcasite and galena (grey inclusions). The color variation of the sphalerite is due to grain size and (minor) to the iron content. The broken base reveals the striking concentric bands. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 5569 and acquired from Al McGuinness in the late 1960s. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). This old mine is well-known for schalenblende specimens, but this superb old-time piece is remarkable in its form and perfection. Fairly valued at $1250.