Gadolinite-(Y) (rare locality) (ex Warner & Greiger)

Item Description

A rarely seen specimen of Gadolinite-(Y) from Colorado, not from the more famous Trout Creek Pass or White Cloud Pegmatite localities, but rather from somewhere near Pueblo (according to the labels). The piece comes with an old Warner & Greiger dealer label dating back decades, along with an old label from Hamel Mining and Minerals, both of which mention Pueblo or Pueblo County as the locality. This is far enough away from Trout Creek Pass in Chaffee County that I think it's not a mistake, but very possibly from a rare isolated discovery. A handful of dark brown-black partial crystals of Gadolinite-(Y) measuring up to 9 mm are exposed in the pegmatite matrix. The main crystal is actually fairly well-formed, and a very good example of this well-known rare earth species. This mineral was named after Johan Gadolin who actually discovered the first known rare earth element, Yttrium.