Magnetite (circa mid-1800's)

Unknown Owner

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A shocking Franklin mineral! This is a large, well-formed, single dodecahedron of Magnetite from the famous Sterling Hill group of mines. The metallic luster and high density are hallmarks of Magnetite, and this is certainly one of the best of species that I have seen from here. BY FAR. In fact, the form is so good that the famous mineral dealer AE Foote thought that this was a Franklinite, as indicated by the original Foote label glued to the bottom (from the late 1800's). #5638 in Kay's collection, she acquired this fine Magnetite in 1969.The label and style would indicate this came from the Franklin Furnace mine, and the heyday of discovery here in the mid to late 1800s. I have seen small samples, but never anything as robust and complete as this specimen. It fooled Foote, and it would have fooled me as well, had Kay not caught it and corrected it in a collection that Scott Williams was dispersing. Dense, at 221 grams mass in this small volume.