Shigaite on unknown

Item Description

Dozens of thin bladed crystals of the rare aluminum manganese sulfate Shigaite populate the very unusual matrix if this specimen. The hexagonal Shigaites have superb luster, a fiery yellow-orange-red coloration, and reach up to about .3 cm in size. The Shigaites grow primarily on fine brown blades of an unknown mineral. These blades themselves seem to transition right from the bulk of the matrix, which is a fine-grained, tan-colored mineral with an exceptional shimmery luster. This matrix is molded after a cubic mineral previously in situ, and the largest of these molds is about 3 cm. Well beyond normal Shigaite/Rhodo combinations that you often find Shigaite in. This one is unique in my experience except for a few in the Charlie Key collection and stock which he thought might be altering to pyroaurite.