Tuscanite (very rare)

Item Description

Tuscanite is a very rare potassium calcium silicate, but it also has sulfate and carbonate molecules in its chemical composition. A note on mindat.org states that this mineral is a "2D-zeolite that - alongside with the related latiumite - may be considered a prototype of advanced ion-exchange & ion/proton conductivity materials". Additionally you look up the Tuscanite on mindat.org, you'll see it's only found in Italy (the authenticity of the one French locality listed is questionable). The type locality for the species is Case Collina in Tuscany, but those specimens are incredibly hard to find, and the better known examples are those from Sacrofano, north of the city of Rome. This miniature sized specimen features classic, translucent, white bladed crystals of Tuscanite tucked into a vug in volcanic rock matrix. The largest crystals measure about 2-3 mm. A good sized specimen of this rare and attractive material from this classic locality. From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar, the well-known mineral collector and dealer from Colorado (1946-2007) and the namesake for the rare zirconium phosphate species, Kosnarite. Rich loved classic minerals from Europe, and actually named his company Mineral Classics for this reason.