Wardite (unusual HOLLOW crystal!) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Wardite is an uncommon hydrated sodium aluminum phosphate species, and some of the best known examples are those from the Taquaral area in Brazil. The species was named after the famed Henry Augustus Ward who was a Professor of Natural Sciences at University of Rochester in New York, but to the mineral collecting community he is best known as the founder of Ward's Natural Science Establishment, which was a major source of mineral specimens for collectors for decades. This toenail sized specimen features sharp, well-formed, chalky-white colored, lustrous crystals of Wardite measuring up to 7 mm sitting on slightly smoky colored Quartz crystal matrix, but the most interesting aspect of the piece is that the largest Wardite crystal is actually hollow(!), as you can see a small hole on the side of the crystal that allows for viewing to the empty interior. I can't say if this is a unique occurrence for Wardite, but I can't remember ever seeing another crystal quite like it. Upon close inspection, I can see another tiny hole in one of the secondary Wardite crystals, but I can't say for sure if this one is hollow as well. A great opportunity to pick up a unique specimen that would make a great addition to an esoteric mineral suite, a collection of phosphates or minerals from Brazil. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#8048) which is accompanied by an old label from Walt Lidstrom.. Kay was a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics. She nearly lived 100 years from April 1920 - March 2020. See the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record ( https://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/Kay%20Robertson%20Collection.pdf ), and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017.