Willemite var. Troostite and Calcite

Item Description

Troostite is a Mn-bearing variety of willemite. Sharp and geometric crystals of willemite are more uncommon then the typical grains you see embedded with calcite, franklinite, and zincite in specimens from Franklin, New Jersey. The largest crystal on this piece is 2.8 cm tall. As you would expect from Franklin pieces, the troostite crystals fluoresce a bright green under UV light and are a nice complement to the calcite they're embedded in, which glows bright red under the UV light. This was long in the collection of John Roger Mitchell, who acquired it in 1977! Ex. Alex Venzke.