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Neptunite from Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Rocks, Fossils & Minerals Start Price:625.00 USD Estimated At:1,250.00 - 1,875.00 USD
Neptunite from Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size and weight of your purchase. All shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. If additional shipping and handling costs are required, the buyer will be reinvoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight
An attractive, classic specimen of this unusual silicate of potassium, sodium, lithium, iron, manganese, and titanium. The Benitoite Gem Mine (Dallas Gem Mine) has produced the world's finest known crystals of neptunite. At the "macro scale" neptunite appears to be jet black in color, but, it is actually a deep maroon reddish-brown. This color is apparent when macro crystals are viewed in strong light at sharp angles, in microcrystals, or when prepared in thin section. When found most neptunite crystals from San Benito Co., California are embedded in a thick vein-filling of the mineral natrolite. Specimens from this locale are prepared for collectors by dissolving some of the surrounding Natrolite in acid to expose the Neptunite crystals. This specimen shows the rare, blackish, highly lustrous, prismatic neptunite crystals on a nicely contrasting white colored natrolite covered matrix ... a very aesthetic mineral specimen. Dimensions (cm): 2.8 H x 4.7 W x 5 D. Location: Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California, USA HWAC# 53032