Fresnoite on Analcime

Unknown Owner

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Fresnoite is among the rarest of the San Benito County titanium mineral suite and was once so rare that a single crystal with size like the largest here might cost $5000 or more, alone and single, let alone perched on crystallized analcime. The world's best fresnoites came from a small find of Scott Kleine in about 2002, called the "4th of July Pocket." This specimen actually PREDATES that famous find, and might be the best earlier specimen. It was self collected by Doug Wallace with claim owner Lisa Junnila, before Kleine worked the deposit, in 1997. Doug prepped and cleaned it, and it resided in his collection for some time and is among the better miniatures of the location (and thus for the species), and right up there with anything from the more famous later discovery or 2002. A 10 x 6 x 4 mm fresnoite crystal stands dramatically upon contrasting matrix here! The overall look, with so many crystals on three dimensional and contrasting matrix, is simply amazing. Ex Doug Wallace personal collection