Magnetite (twinned) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

The famous Binntal (Binn Valley) in Switzerland has produced some of the most iconic and finest quality examples of crystallized Magnetite in the world. This attractive and rare thumbnail specimen features sharp, jet-black colored, twinned octahedra of Magnetite free of matrix. The crystals have an almost directional luster, which can appear almost chatoyant when rotated in the light. The label states that the crystals have a "Rutile center", but I'm not exactly sure what this infers. An excellent overall specimen of this elusive and highly desirable material from the Swiss Alps. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#9745). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).