significant Weloganite with Dawsonite, Quartz

Item Description

This is a significant, world-class level example of the species from only a few very rare finds in the early to mid 1980s, and they are by far best of species as well. Pieces like this, you can count on one hand! This was a lucky trim from a larger specimen in an old collection we obtained long ago and became an absolutely stunning matrix weloganite, after a bit of risk to trim it down from a large boulder. The large, tapered, pale yellow, pseudo-hexagonal weloganite crystal is 3.9 cm tall and 1.5 cm across and is perfectly decorated by several dozen sparkling 1 to 3mm quartz crystals. It has no damage despite its size, as it was protected in a pocket! Also in association are several small clusters of white to translucent calcite, a white box work of dawsonite (rich microcrystals), and several other smaller weloganite crystals. Weloganite is a rare hydrated strontium-sodium-zirconium carbonate. Dawsonite is a rare sodium-aluminum carbonate hydroxide. The Francon Quarry is the type locality for weloganite and is named after famed Canadian mineralogist, W.E. Logan. Only a few finds were made of these nice large crystals over several decades, and nothing in recent years. These stand as one of the great classic rarities of Canada and best of species in the world! This is a large, unrepaired, undamaged matrix specimen with the suite of rare species intact. All too often, the dawsonite is removed by acid and physical cleaning. A major, important specimen, valued $5000-10,000.