Halite on Sylvite

Unknown Owner

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These gorgeous, strong blue halite crystals only came out of a small zone in a vast old mine in new Mexico, now closed to further collecting. This specimen features an unusually sharp and isolated halite crystal of razor sharp form from this classic USA locality. The crystal measures 3.0 x 2.7 x 2.0 cm, perched smartly in sylvite matrix. This material came out only briefly over a few years, from about 2008-12. No damage nor repairs. The site within the mine is not only forbidden to access, but has in fact also collapsed completely due to subsidence. No more have or will come out. The blue color, due to rare earth elements, makes these the world's best halites in our opinion. Please note the soft matrix is stabilized to prevent crumbling (as they all should be). A great article on this material was published in MR: Philip, Simmons (2013) The Carlsbad Potash Basin, Carlsbad, New Mexico, in January-February 2013. The Mineralogical Record, 44 (1) 13-49.