Kegelite with Siderite ex. Asselborn Coll.

Item Description

Although this may not look like much to most collectors, others will recognize it as an extraordinarily rich specimen of the extremely rare species Kegelite, a lead species found in macrocrystals only at Tsumeb (the type locality). This piece has a rich covering of crystals with characteristic pearlescent sheen to them. The little clusters reach 1mm, which is exceptional in size and richness for the species. A sharp, lustrous, gemmy siderite crystal is in attendance for contrast and to add a bit of show value (we wished it were stolzite, but XRAY proes otherwise...). Only few valid kegelite specimens ever were recovered, and most pieces on the market are trims from those original pieces (this being no exception, a trim that previous owner Eric Asselborn said he obtained in trade in the 1980s, and from one of the specimens in BMNH holdings). When I got the collection, I did send this sample out for analysis and confirmation, which was done by Bart Cannon and proved conclusive. In other words, this is not a mislabelled dolomite - as too many "kegelites" on the market have proven to be when analysed. Another trim from this same specimen was also in the Asselborn collection, and is now in the Smithsonian Institution. Valued $1000-2000