SOLD
JB17-1893
Hematite, Calcite, Hausmannite
Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Small Cabinet, 6.3 x 4.3 x 3.1 cm
Ex. Charlie Key
SOLD

Hematite from this one amazing pocket found in around 2010, has since set the standard for the species. It is simply that much better than all others, in some ways. The luster of the crystals and their sharp form is phenomenal, as is the color saturation of jet black hue. The faces on the front of these crystals are so brilliant, that they are like a mirror you can see your face in. Most crystals from the pocket, as is this one, have a thin rind of small hausmannite crystals lining the edges, which accents the shape and luster all the more. This particuar crystal is a fine small cabinet, one of the few that is not already locked up in the top private collections. While pristine and undamaged, it does have a natural hairline crack running down the middle - accentuated on purpose in the photo, so that it will look better in person. This is typical of larger crystals from the find, and is trivial in context. Note the cute little hausmannite accent in the top right, as well as around the rim. Calcite crystals provide a final fluorish. I do not expect to ever see many of these come up for sale, and in any case there weren't more than a few dozen of this caliber. Ex. Charlie Key collection (sold to myself and Marshall Sussman years later, and one of the pieces Charlie kept back in handling the pocket at the time, for his own collection - a small collection of one superb small cab when possible, from each pocket he handled in the last 20 years). Video and photo by Joe Budd. Comes with a custom lucite base. View rotating 360 video at https://goo.gl/8WRprj