Wohlerite (rare - old - near Type Locality)

Item Description

Wohlerite is a rare zirconium, niobium silicate found in the late phase of strange and uncommon alkalid pegmatites, nepheline syenites, fenites and carbonatites. This very rich old-time specimen is from near the famous Type Locality (discovered in 1843) in Norway, where thorite was discovered in 1829. Lustrous, translucent, yellowish-brown, wohlerite crystals and crystal fragments to about 1.5 cm are richly scattered on all sides of the starkly contrasting, two-toned matrix. Rarely on the market from this locality. Comes with an expertly handwritten, faded label from an older collection. The collection this came out of was a museum stash dating to prior to World War I.