Riebeckite and Bastnaesite-(Ce) - image 1

Riebeckite and Bastnaesite-(Ce) - image 2

Riebeckite and Bastnaesite-(Ce) - image 3

Riebeckite and Bastnaesite-(Ce) - image 4

Riebeckite and Bastnaesite-(Ce)

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

A superb group of lustrous black crystals of this very rare species, to 3.3 cm, perched on a granite matrix. A small reddish-brown Bastanite xl is nestled amidst the group. Although Riebeckite is a common black rock-forming mineral at the deposit, it is very uncommon as crystallized specimens. According to Dr. Peter Leaven's analysis (University of Delaware) "An analyzed grain is close to pure Riebeckite but has some K and Ca as well as NA, and minor MN and MG substituting for FE, as well as trace AL, probably substituting for Si." This specimen is pictured in an article on Zagi Mountain by Dr. Peter Leavens and Obodda, published in the "Rare Earths" issue of The Mineralogical Record, May-June 2004 (Volume 35, number 3): figure 25 on page 218. This specimen was in many Obodda exhibit cases over the years.