Xonotlite with Thaumasite (RARE combo)

Item Description

Xonotlite is a relatively rare inosilicate mineral (Dana has it classified as an Amphibole species). The best / most well known specimens are certainly those from the famous Wessels Mine in South Africa. This piece features attractive radial "sprays" of white needles Xonotlite measuring up to 1.2 cm across, which play host to a beautiful GEMMY, colorless, hexagonal crystal of Thaumasite measuring 7 mm. A few soft beige colored crystals of what I believe are Datolite can be seen on the piece as well. While both Xonotlite and Thaumasite are well-known from the Wessels Mine, I can't recall seeing them together on the same specimen prior to this one, so this is certainly a great rarity in terms of the association for all you rare species collectors. These specimens are becoming harder to find on the market these days, but good ones are certainly worthwhile to pick up if you collect rarities.
From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered.