ORDWAY-54
Aphthitalite
Ghom Salt Dome, Qom Province, Iran
Small Cabinet, 7.7 x 7.0 x 5.5 cm
Ex. Al Ordway
SOLD

This is a rare potassium, sodium sulfate which is almost never found in euhedral, barrel shaped crystals of this size, up to 8 mm in length. The crystals are lustrous and translucent and exhibit a light gray. This is from an early expedition to the salt domes of Iran. This piece, with numerous crystals to about 1 cm, is (i am told) of a superior quality. I have seen only one other of any quality, for sale, from the Zinn collection rarities suite back in 2003. In fact, that piece is still, 8 years later, one of only a very few Iranian examples illustrated on MINDAT: http://www.mindat.org/loc-190502.html