Sampleite (very rare) (ex David Burgess Collection)

Item Description

A very rare specimen of the calcium, sodium, copper phosphate Sampleite from the Santa Catalina Mine in Chile. Sampleite was first described in 1942 from Chuquicamata, Chile and was named after Matt Sample, a mine superintendent for the Chile Exploration Company. This piece features micro, micaceous, glowing blue color "plate"-like crystals of Sampleite on matrix. Attention rare mineral collectors, pick this one up, as they are almost never seen on the market. From the worldwide collection of David Burgess (1951-2016). David was a prolific species collector from Newington, Connecticut, and the namesake for the extremely rare cobalt arsenate species Burgessite, which he discovered. The piece comes with a classic label from Josef Vajdak / Pequa Rare Minerals, which immediately increases the value.