Thenardite (fine rare crystals) (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

Thenardite is a relatively rare sodium sulfate that was named after the former Professor of Chemistry at University of Paris, Louis Jacques Thénard in 1826. This specimen is a fine quality example of the material featuring a cluster of rather sharp, well-formed, "diamond"-shaped orthorhombic crystals of a medium brownish-grey color. The piece is crystallized nearly all the way around (almost a complete "floater") but I did find a few points of attachment on the underside. The largest individual crystal measures 2.5 cm. One of the better pieces of this material that we've had to offer. 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.

PLEASE NOTE: Thenardite is a water soluble evaporate mineral and unless care is taken to keep this specimen in a cool dry place, it can end up as piles of white powder in your storage box! If you live in a humid environment, this specimen could easily disintegrate if proper precautions are not taken.