Spinel (possibly Gahnite?) (classic locality)

Item Description

A good representative single crystal of octahedral Spinel from the famed Amity area in New York (just north of the New Jersey state line). The piece features sharp, well-formed faces with good luster, and while the color may look black on the surface, it has a very deep green color. It actually came to us with a note that said it was "Gahnite", which is part of the Spinel Group, and a distinctly different species. While Gahnite crystals are often a dark green hue, color is not always indicative of species, and I cannot find a confirmed listing for Gahnite from Amity, so we're leaving it simply as Spinel for now. A small dark reddish-brown crystal of what is probably Chondrodite (or another member of the Humite) group can be seen growing on the side of the piece. Now the crystal is not undamaged, there are some areas of roughness, but it's still a worthwhile example of these great old classics that can date back to the 1800s.