Name: Sellaite
Brand: The Arkenstone
Price: 5000 USD
Availability: InStock

Sellaite

Sellaite is an unlikely mineral composed simply of MgF2 - magnesium and fluorine! The Schauss thumbnail collection was known for, above all else, quality combined with a startling array of breadth and depth of species. Alex was on the hunt for rare species in geometric and display quality crystals that could arguably be both among "world's best" of that species AND, importantly, displayable thumbnails to fit in with the collection. This is perhaps a best of species thumbnail, of the rare mineral sellaite, from one of the most classic old deposits. We have never even seen another come close to the sharp crystal habit and gemminess here, both combined together - although Brazil has produced some larger examples without the sharpness or highest luster. Nevertheless, for a true thumbnail of the right size and look, this is amazing. It is far far better in person as the brightness and luster is hard to capture. Alex notes in his catalog information the following: Confirmed by Dr. Hexiong Yang (University of Arizona) by both Raman and XRD on 2-10-18. From: Leonard Hines (Monument, Colorado), February 11, 2018: Ex: Chris Wright collection; Ex. James Austin Buce; Ex. Leonard Himes. Laszlo Kupi photo. Recently featured in the book, Refined Elegance (Mineralogical Record, Nov. 2022) on page 84. One of the keystone rare species pieces in a collection of 1200 specimens, this is a privilege to handle and I have always loved it since i first say it in the 1990s. A shocking, nearly gemmy transparent crystal of this rare species, from a classic Asian location. We assume these came out together (the sellaite and a sulfoborate crystal also offered for sale here) in one of the many old collections that Chris Wright bought in his career as a dealer and collector, although he preserved little by way of labels and documents. After his passing, many of his rare species were sold and ended up with Leonard Himes for sale.

$5,000.00