Zincite (co-type locality) on Franklinite - image 1

Zincite (co-type locality) on Franklinite - image 2

Zincite (co-type locality) on Franklinite

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We sometimes see man made Zincite crystals from furnace slag, but naturally occurring Zincite crystals like this one from the co-type locality at Franklin, New Jersey are incredibly rare and remain best of species in the natural world. Sadly, they are old, generally early 1900s at latest for the good ones, and so we see few turn up for sale ! Laying horizontally across a granular Franklinite matrix is a giant, for the species, 5.2 cm long, terminated and mostly complete, ruby-red, crystal of Zincite. It is accompanied by two other mostly complete Zincite crystals, one on either side of the large one. All three crystals are translucent to locally transparent and pop with some side-lighting to them, An incredible small cabinet piece that I recently acquired as part of the Chet Lemanski collection. The Franklin and Sterling Hill mines in the late 1800s and early 1900s produced what are still regarded as the world's best Zincite crystals but they all reside in collections that seldom recycle. This is a rare display quality example.