Purpurite (rare old Maine) ex Howard Belsky Coll.

Item Description

Purpurite is a Mn-phosphate, a Triphylite Group species, the Li-deficient oxidation product of Lithiophillite. Both the layered pretty lavender purpurite crusts and matrix have an interesting shimmering shiller effect depending on the angle and light incidence on the specimen. Specimens from the pegmatites of Oxford County are uncommon. This older piece comes with a Hugh Ford label, a prominent New York dealer dating from 1946-57. MINDAT does not list Purpurite from the famous Dunton Gem Quarry, so the piece must be from another Oxford County pegmatite. Ex Howard Belsky Collection. Howard started as a mineral dealer at age 13 in 1972, became a sophisticated dealer and died tragically at age 28 in 1987.