Zaratite on Chromite (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Bright green spots of the rare nickel carbonate Zaratite sit on a massive black rounded mound of Chromite that was found in the San Benito River in San Benito County, California. It should be noted that Chromite is is significant because it is the only economic ore of chromium, and while plenty of contain chromium, none of them are found in deposits that can be economically mined to produce chromium. A cool rarity to add to a California collection. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#7858). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record).