Staurolite (twin)

Item Description

A fine "floater" penetration twin of Staurolite from the Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County, Virginia. The piece is complete all around with sharp, defined faces and a rich brown hue. These crystals are sometimes referred to as "fairy crosses", though I don't know if the park was named after the crystals or vice versa.
From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974 ( https://www.mindat.org/photo-326405.html ).