Wavellite with Pyrophyllite (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

While the Pyrophyllite specimens from this locality are locally known to collectors, I've never seen a single specimen of Wavellite from the Snow Camp Mine (Holman's Mill Mine - labeled as "Holman's Hill) in North Carolina. This large miniature / small cabinet specimen features several radiating aggregates of soft silvery-beige colored Wavellite measuring up to about 4 mm across, sitting on massive soft white to golden colored Pyrophyllite matrix. Several of the Wavellite "balls" are complete and look great up close. A great rarity for any fan of North Carolina minerals or general phosphates.
From the collection of Norman Kennedy ("Kenny") Gay (1953-2023), a geologist, geoscience educator and mineral collector from North Carolina. (#H1710) Kenny worked for North Carolina Geological Survey starting 1995, and he was a member of the adjunct faculty at Wesleyan College, and a professor of geology since 2001. He assembled a large collection of worldwide minerals specimens, though he focused mainly on minerals of North Carolina. Kenny did substantial work documenting all of the significant mineral occurrences and mining/mineral collecting in North Carolina. He might be best associated with the Redmond Mine, where the rare extremely rare lead sulfate Kennygayite was discovered and named in his honor in 2022. Kenny was the first person to collect specimens at this locality, which lead Jason Smith to take an interest in this assemblage, and later name a mineral in Kenny's honor.