Weloganite (Univ. of Arizona)

Item Description

Weloganite is an ultra rare, strontium, sodium, zirconium carbonate and this showy and excellent specimen is from the famous Type Locality - the now-closed Francon Quarry in Montreal, Quebec. A large 2.0 cm, doubly terminated, tapered and layered, yellow to off-white crystal is aesthetically perched atop the limestone matrix. A fine and showy example, this extremely rare species is known at its best from a very few pockets at this cement quarry, which has incredibly strange chemistry and has produced a number of such rarities IN THE PAST. Not available now, except from advanced, recycled collections or museums. The crystal has been cleanly reattached to the matrix. Ex University of Arizona Collection. Donated by Janet and Steven Cares in 1980. Note that the crystal is yellow and translucent when backlit, but is partially covered by a microthin layer of other rare species. Valued $750-1000