Whiteite-(CaFeMg) (rare phosphate)

Item Description

Whiteite-(CaFeMg) is a member of the very rare complex phosphates of the Whiteite Group. It is named after John Sampson White, Jr., former associate curator of minerals, Smithsonian Institution and founder, editor and publisher (1970-1982) of the Mineralogical Record. Sharp, lustrous, moderately lustrous, light brown prisms to 1.3 cm richly cover the matrix on this excellent specimen. The finest examples of the species come from the famous deposits at Rapid Creek. Showy, rich and highly representative of species, even with the noted brusing. The back of the layered matrx is richly covered with inidigo-blue lazulite and quartz crystals.