Ilvaite
Posted by: Maia Sinkins on 01.14.2021 | Filed under:

Ilvaite

Specimen # 100593
Mineral: Ilvaite
Location: Huanggang Mines, Hexigten Banner, Ulanhad, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
Size: 9.2 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm

Description

Detailed Description

This is a complete floater – a doubly terminated crystal of parallel-growth habit with no point of attachment. It is as if it was created as a crystal model from a textbook drawing. It actually has a little more complexity than that – lots of parallel faces and a small amount of “wheat-sheaf” flaring at one end is quite aesthetic. The lustre on this one is silky and the terminations are slightly frosty. It is in amazing condition – looks perfect unless you’re searching up close – a couple of tiny corner nicks not obvious, they are certainly not distracting. This specimen is all about form – it is an excellent doubly-terminated ilvaite.

About These Ilvaites

Although the finds at Huanggang have clearly produced ilvaite specimens of a calibre and in numbers previously unknown for the mineral, many Huanggang ilvaites are quite chipped or more severely damaged – these ones are excellent. Over the course of the ilvaite finds, some characteristics of the crystals have varied quite substantially. In particular, some are much sharper than others, and some are much brighter than others.

Additional information

Dimensions 53 × 20 × 18 cm

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