KRE-12
Talc ps. Forsterite
Mackinaw Mine, Monte Cristo District, Snohomish Co., Washington, USA
Small Cabinet, 6.4 x 5.8 x 4.8 cm
Ex. Kay Robertson
SOLD

Both Talc and Forsterite are quite uncommon in this area, but to actually find a specimen of Forsterite pseudomorphed by Talc is a rare occurrence indeed. In fact, I have seen only a handful of these ever from the Mackinaw Mine in Snohomish County, Washington. Of the six crystals, the largest and best preserved Talc is nearly 3 cm tall, with the original Forsterite's tabular habit and edges well-defined. There is some contacting along the back of the crystal, but the majority of the presentation face is complete save for the left edge. I have found that Talc pseudos, like these and the famous ones after Quartz, have an attraction all their own. Considering that neither species is reported from the Mackinaw mine on Mindat, this is certainly an incredibly rare specimen from this copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver mine in upper northwest Washington state. Old carousel Gems provenance, to Kay. This is a puzzler, an oddball, once that just makes you wonder what else used to come out of these remote holes in the ground!