Phenakite with Quartz
Unknown Owner
A really superb old time Norwegian classic with a colorless to slightly greenish double terminated glassy and gemmy crystal of phenakite 2.6 cm in length embedded up on mass of quartz. This is in really good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. This label is an original acquisition date of 1906.The Tangen mine, located near Kragero in Telemark, Norway, is a historic feldspar and quartz quarry famous among mineralogists for producing exceptional specimens of phenakite. Geologically, the mine is situated within a granitic pegmatite of the Bamble sector, characterized by its coarse-grained texture and rare element enrichment. Within this pegmatite, phenakite formed as a late-stage hydrothermal mineral, often occurring as large, well-defined rhombohedral crystals embedded in a matrix of quartz or altered feldspar. Mining and quarrying operations at Tangen began in the late 19th century, primarily focusing on the extraction of high-grade feldspar for the ceramic and glass industries, with intermittent production recorded from approximately 1880 through the mid-20th century. Historically, the site gained significant mineralogical attention in the early 1900s when large, transparent phenakite crystals were first discovered, some of which are now preserved in major museum collections.J. Brunner was a notable German mineral dealer based in Magdeburg during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period when the city served as a significant hub for European trade and industry. His dealership was recognized for supplying high-quality mineralogical and geological specimens to both private collectors and academic institutions, often focusing on the diverse mineral wealth of the Harz Mountains and the Stassfurt salt deposits. Historically, Brunner played a role in the wider distribution of rare species and classic German locality pieces, with his name frequently appearing on historical specimen labels that are still preserved in museum archives.
Product details
Species
SizeMiniature
Dimensions4.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm
Added on05/22/2026
Locality
Tangen Mine, Kragero, Telemark, Norway
Known provenance
| Date | Collector | Acquisition price |
|---|---|---|
| 05/2026 | Unknown Owner | $1,475.00 |
| — | Weinrich Minerals | Not disclosed |
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