Ilvaite (doubly-terminated) on Quartz (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Huanggang Fe-Sn deposit (Huanggang Mine), Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Small Cabinet, 7.1 x 4.6 x 3.2 cm
Start Time: 05/10/2018 7:15:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 05/24/2018 7:15:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful combination specimen features a showy Ilvaite aesthetically perched across the prismatic stepped Quartz crystals. The ilvaite is nearly complete-all-around, and is actually doubly-terminated, though part of the termination on one end is contacted. The ilvaite terminations are sharp and tapering, and the crystal group couldn't be set more beautifully on the Quartz. This association produces a highly desirable (and rarely seen) color contrast, and this material is already a contemporary classic and a staple from this prolific mine. Ex Dr. Steven Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.

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