Thortveitite - superb large rare XL for species

Item Description

Exemplary pair of crystals of Thorveitite, an uncommon scandium silicate. Few scandium-containing minerals crysatllize in size over a few millimeters, making this exceptional for the element in the earth's crust. The larger of the two crystals is a remarkable 3.4 cm, and the crystal has a sharp, tapered habit with olive-brown color. At and exposed length of 2.1 cm, the smaller crystal is still very respectable in size, and has excellent luster. Both sit very nicely in the matrix, and being on opposite sides allows display from either direction. The Type Locality for Thortveitite is in the Iveland area of southern Norway, and this area contains thirteen localities that are likely related. Certainly from the region in which the first were found, the chances are good that this quality specimen is actually from the Type Locality mine, or at least the same deposit. It is an attractive, aesthetic (reatively) display piece of this scandium species. At the time, back in the 1990s when he bought it, this was valued over $1000. It is old material, and I have not seen many since that time. Significant, and interesting at the same time....this is a "highly rarified rarity" that is actually one of the most important things in this auction set. I remember selling this to him back in the late 1990s and at the time, it was the only good specimen of the material pictured on the internet (my old university dormitory label from 1995 accompanies), long before MINDAT arrived. Sadly, I do not have labels for the previous history anymore but I believe that it came from the John Saul collection (he collected based on the elements, and sold many things to Cal Graeber when I lived nearby, and was takign them to sell on the early internet).