Thulite (manganese-bearing Zoisite) (recent discovery)

Item Description

This piece was discovered in 2019, and was one of the more interesting and exciting discoveries that we found in Tucson the same year. These exciting pieces of electric pink Thulite (manganian Zoisite) were surprisingly found during a tunnel construction at Snillfjord, Norway. It should be pointed out that Thulite was once a valid species, but it is now defined as a manganese-bearing variety of Zoisite. There are actually more reported localities for Thulite in Norway than any other country, and the original type locality for Thulite is also located in Norway. Lastly, the manganese content of Thulite makes it maganian not manganoan due to the fact that it is trivalent and not divalent, like the majority of manganese in many minerals. Here we have a lovely miniature sized specimen of solid (no matrix) bright salmon pink colored Thulite on every side. With strong magnification you can see the Thulite is crystalline - not truly crystallized - but that amazing color is what really catches the eye. If you collect rarities, beautifully colored minerals or even Norwegian minerals, don't miss out on this one. Few were available, and it's likely that few will be found again since the tunnel construction didn't last long.