Poldervaartite (Type Loc.)

$2,200.00

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A cluster of sparkling and translucent, pinkish brown crystals, to 7 mm in length, of poldervaartite, a calcium and manganese rich silicate from the Wessels mine in South Africa. Notably, this is from the type locality and probably from the type pocket material. This mineral was discovered in the early 1980s but only recognized and named by 1993. Specimens were always extremely rare and hard to obtain: Literally, these were like gold to the collectors of Kalahari rarities suites. Almost impossible to obtain. Von Bezing, Key, a few people had them. Later, similar-looking material was found in N'Chwaning and it turned out to be the new, related species Olmiite. This remains, thus, a rare species that few can own (despite all the hundreds of mislabeled olmiite on the market now, out there!). Probably (according to Charlie Key) any piece from this pocket can be considered a co-type with the material used to describe the species. Aesthetic, significant, and an important rarity.