Strontianite (large crystals) (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

The Minerva No. 1 Mine is one of the most famous localities in the United States, mainly for its outstanding Fluorite crystals, but it also has produced some excellent examples of other minerals like Strontianite. This piece is a fantastic display specimen featuring large sized crystals for the locality in a semi-"spray" formation. The gentle golden color combined with the elegant overall form of the specimen make it a must-have for any fan of carbonate minerals or specimens from southern Illinois. Most Strontianite crystals from this locality average around 1-2 cm, but the crystals on this specimen are in excess of 5+ cm in areas. A very attractive and high quality example of this material, which is fast disappearing from the marketplace. 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. Valued at $1,000.