Tarbuttite (rare, classic material) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Tarbuttite is a rare hydroxy zinc phosphate which was named after Percy Coventry Tarbutt, who was one of the directors of the Broken Hill Exploration Company who collected the first specimens at Broken Hill (now Kabwe), Zambia - which is the type locality. This is an attractive old-time specimen featuring hundreds of gemmy / translucent, colorless Tarbuttite crystals on oxidzied matrix. A great rarity for species collectors. Nearly every crystal is pristine. Valued at $500. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#51) which means it was a VERY early entry into her collection, dating back many decades. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).