Vivianite

Unknown Owner

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Found in the 1950s or 1960s during construction work to develop the centre of the Virginia State Capitol District within the city of Richmond these Vivianite 'Hedgehogs' and other larger individual bladed crystals soon became great rarities. Reports suggest that the Vivianite was associated with the fossilized remains of whales, the iron phosphate mineral having crystallized around bones and vertebrae in a thick clay. Whatever, their formation, they were rare back then, and even rarer now. This well-balanced radiating spray of acicular to bladed Vivianite crystals found its way to British collector David Hardman during the 1960s or 1970s and has formed part of his extensive North American suite until now. It has a relatively flat base with sharp, thin, bladed glossy black Vivianite crystals radiating, or fanning outwards. There is some damage, but remarkably the majority of the crystals are in excellent condition.