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SABINAITE with Weloganite

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Sabinaite is an exceptionally rare sodium zirconium titanium oxide carbonate, known from just three localities worldwide. It was first described from Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada in 1980 where it is associated with Weloganite but specimens from this original find are hard to come by. The world's best crystals of Sabinaite are actually from Mont Saint-Hilaire, but those from the Type Locality are much rarer and very much different in appearance. This cabinet-sized specimen from Francon quarry is extremely rich in Sabinaite, as an extensive coating of chalky-white microcrystals forming small clustered aggregates 2 to 3 mm in diameter with a couple of larger, pale cream coloured, tapering Weloganite crystals, the largest 9 mm in length. This is a magnificent example of this super rarity, and displaying its classic association with Weloganite from its Type Locality. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).