Sharp Hedenbergite xl (RARE, old - Type Locality)

Item Description

VERY RARE, old-time, sharp hedenbergite from the long extinct Cu-Co mines at Tunaberg, the Type Locality. The mines intermittently produced first copper, then cobalt from around 1420 to about 1890 (MINDAT). Hedenbergite, a common Pyroxene Group mineral, was named here in 1819! This is a very sharp three-sided prism with high luster, greenish-black color accented with an interesting stepped-growth termination. There are NO examples in the MINDAT locality Photo Gallery. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 2163 and acquired from the Lindemann Collection in November, 1961. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record). A superb thumbnail and valued at $1000 for rarity and quality.