Wagnerite (rare classic material) (ex Matioli Collection)

Item Description

Wagnerite is a rare magnesium iron phosphate that was named after Franz von Wagner in 1821. Wagner was a German mining official, who was a key figure in the development of the Bavarian mining and metallurgical industry. This piece is from Höllgraben, Austria (about 40 km southeast of Salzburg), which is the type locality for the species. This specimen hosts a 6.2 cm long crystal of orange-pink colored Wagnerite with sharp, well-formed faces sitting atop yellow-orange Breunnerite (an iron-bearing variety of Magnesite) on host rock matrix. The Wagnerite has a couple of sections where the crystal was contacted / separated apart (possibly due to tectonic activity), but it's still firmly in place on the matrix. These specimens are notably hard to find on the market, and if you're a fan of rare phosphates or minerals from the type locality, don't miss out on this colorful piece from this old classic locality. The piece is from the Paolo Matioli Collection with an accompanying label from the collection of Putz Hubert of Bad Ischl, Austria.