Pyromorphite

Unknown Owner

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This specimen of olive green, lustrous pyromorphite, with crystals to .5 cm, was probably collected 200 years ago! It is a fine locality piece, in its own right, and very attractive for the color and size of the crystals from this important locality. In addition, this specimen is accompanied by the personal collection label of Archduke Stephan, of Austria, a major player in the mineral market of the early 1800s in Europe. Archduke Stephan died on February 19, 1867 and his collection was eventually bought by the German industrialist Frederick Rumpf (see his label attached to the backside as well, dated 1889). Interestingly, the mineral Stpehanite is named in his honor. The collection then made its way into a German museum (the Humboldt) from which many specimens "leaked out" in the 1960s-1980s. One problem with these specimens was that many came apart from their labels, and in some cases new and more glamorous specimens were added to old labels. THIS piece, though, has the numbering on its back which indicates it is legitmate and bona fide part of the collection, the 100/39 Humboldt Museum labelling, which you can clearly see. Learn more about the Archduke's collection at http://minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=596