Henmilite (rare - Type Locality) on Olshanskyite

Item Description

This rare calcium copper hydroxy borate made a splash on the market a decade or so years ago, providing collectors with some of the most beautiful rarities to come from any locality in the last 10 years. These specimens come from the Fuka Mine which is the type locality (and ONLY locality) for Henmilite, and are found in an interesting skarn deposit that has produced many interesting species, e.g., Bicchulite, Fukalite and Numanoite. The pseudorhombic (triclinic) Henmilite crystals with their intense purplish blue color set against the stark white Olshanskyite (another rare borate) matrix makes for a wonderful and and eye catching appearance. This piece features a nice scattering of crystals on both sides of up to 3 mm, which is by no means small for the species. From what we've been told, collecting is only limited to individuals from the university who have permission to go into the mineral producing area, and very little is available on the market now. Ex Matioli Collection.