Stichtite (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

This piece is a great classic example of this famous material from the Tunnel Hill Quarry featuring a rich pinkish-purple mas of Stichtite sitting on dark green Serpentine matrix. Stichtite is a hydrated chromium magnesium carbonate that is formed as an alteration product from chromium-bearing Serpentine. The Tunnell Hill Quarry is the type locality for Stichtite, and one simply does not see many specimens from this locality on the market, so if you collect rarities or minerals from the type locality, don't miss out on this one. The species was discovered in 1910 in Western Tasmania, Australia, was first recognized by A.S. Wesley a former chief chemist with the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, it was named after Robert Carl Sticht the manager of the mine. From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered. The piece is also accompanied by a label from noted rare species dealer Josef Vajdak.