Baddeleyite

$7,500.00

$40.00 shipping
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Ships from USA

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Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,543 for sale·132 sold

Palabora mine represents the largest hole in the ground in South Africa. It is also a fascinatingly complex geological deposit, featuring economically viable copper, uranium, zirconium, platinum, phosphate (Apatite) and Vermiculite. Of the hundred mineral species known to occur there Baddeleyite is perhaps the most important, forming the world's best crystals of this extremely rare zirconium oxide. Most of these were collected during the 1970s and 1980s. This rather large miniature matrix Baddeleyite specimen from Palabora mine is richly covered in glossy black bladed (monoclinic) Baddeleyite crystals reaching up to 1.5 cm in length. Many of the crystals are 'elevated' above the matrix and form an extensive intergrown area measuring approximately 4.5 x 2.5 cm. Some of the crystals display natural tectonic fractures which are typical of this mineral deposit. Nevertheless this is a very significant Baddeleyite. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).