Wagnerite (old classic material)

Item Description

A fantastic, showy matrix speicmen of this important historic material from Austria. This small cabinet piece hosts a well-formed, prismatic, blocky, soft peach-beige colored crystal group of the magnesium phosphate, Wagnerite measuring 4.7 cm, aesthetically set on matrix. Wagnerite was named in honor of Franz Michael von Wagner who according to the entry on mindat.org was the, "mining administrator at Fichtelberg in 1791, later at Chiemgau in 1794, at Reichenhall and Traunstein in 1803, Schwarz, Tyrol in 1806, etc. In 1820, Wagner became head of mining, salt mines, and the mint. Wagner was also important in the development of mining in Bavaria". The first specimens were found in the Breunnerite veins of the Höllgraben circa 1820 and are still some of the most recognized examples of the species ever found. This piece is a showy display specimen for the fact that the Wagnerite is sitting UP on the matrix, and it's not buried or partially incomplete. It's actually not that easy to find crystals on matrix at all from this lcoality in my experience. To top it off, the Wagnerite is actually doubly-terminated (though crudely on one end), and my favorite aspect is that there's a blocky hollow "cast" in the center of the crystal where presumably another mineral once grew and was dissolved away. A really choice specimen of this rarely seen material in a fine quality example. Valued $2,500.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#79 O), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection through our various platforms.