Bastnasite-(Ce) ex Obodda

Item Description

Bastnasite is an uncommon, hexagonal rare earth carbonate with easily the worlds finest and largest examples coming from Zagi Mountain. A 1.0 cm, sharp, lustrous, translucent, honey-brown crystal is aesthetically set on the gneiss matrix. These fairly new specimens have simply redefined the species for size and quality of crystals. It seems as though this locality has produced less and less of these outstanding specimens over the last few years (the ongoing nearby Afghanistan conflict has much to do with this), and if you don't have one in your collection, just keep in mind that these crystals are superb for what they are. Ex Herb Obodda dealer stock, who brought many of these to market. Herb valued this uncommon and uncommonly large matrix specimen at $900, five or more years ago.