Oceanic Phosphorite nodule (RARE locale) Robertson Coll.

Item Description

A RARE, perhaps unique oceanic phosporite nodule from the Pacific Ocean. Phosphorite is a variety of apatite and is lithified phosphate-rich sediments, which includes coprolites, the fossil excrement of fishes, reptiles, and mammals. This lustrous, nubby brown nodule is from the Kay Robertson Collection # 7660 and acquired in 1975. Her label indicates the piece was recovered from 300 to 600' of water depth between the Santa Rosa and San Nicolas offshore California Channel Islands. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017). VERY RARE California material and a must for the locality collector.