Polybasite

Unknown Owner

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These exceptional and uniquely colorful silver species specimens were collected in 1977 by Joe Weinholtzner at a remote location. Rumour (and truth as it turns out!) has it that nearly all were stored in a coffee can at the time and kept that way for decades. Not the best packing job for a collector.... Though many were sold at the time, a number of the largest and finest pieces were kept back and many of these came to market through Mark Mauthner, in 2004-2005. The polybasite crystals, of which this is one of the larger and more robust examples that I have seen for sale from the locality, have been previously very scarce on the market in any size above thumbnail. Most are thin plates, whereas this is a robust, 3-dimensional cluster. The specimens feature a very attractive purple/blue/red/green iridescence, which sets them off from other worldwide localities for these species (both the polybasite and stephanite from here have the coloration). The mine is defunct and despite searching, no more have been found here in 30 years now. This phenomenal specimen is one of the very best Husky miniatures I have seen for sale. It is from the collection of Dr. Mark Mauthner. The display face has no damage, save a (small) ding at the top of the left cluster, and it is otherwise in good shape. It is contacted on the bottom edge and a bit on the backside, but again is nearly pristine where it matters most. The color is spectacular: a metallic mix of iridescent purple, red and blue hues (much more obvious in person than the pictures indicate). Individual crystals reach 1.7 cm.