Hibonite

Unknown Owner

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Hibonite is a rare calcium-aluminum oxide and usually found from deposits in Madagascar. However, this extraordinary crystal is from Myanmar (Burma) and from Bill Larson's personal long-established collection. Everything here was analysed (at Caltech) and it turns out, that this was not anatase (as he purchased it ) nor parisite (as the shape looks to be)...but the best known Burmese hibonite he had seen. This is a really fine crystal in that it is well formed, and unusual in that it has tapering pyramidal terminations at both ends compared to the usual flat style from Madagascar. And more remarkably, it is a translucent brown! Hibonite is rarely translucent! The crystal also has numerous, parallel, horizontal striations perpendicular to its length. This piece is both large and of inordinately fine quality for the species, truly shocking for its aesthetics and symmetry. I have never seen such a lustrous big one, and certainly not from Myanmar, but Bill said the same thing and his opinion matters a lot more than mine! Ex. Bill Larson collection.