BACTN-18
Fresnoite
Junnila Mine, New Idria Mining Dist., San Benito Co., California, USA
Thumbnail, 1.4 x 1.2 x 0.4 cm
Ex. Bill & Anne Cook; Scott Kleine
$2,750.00 Payment Plan Available
Order Now

Fresnoite is one of the most rare titanium-bearing minerals found in San Benito County in the vicinity of the California State Gem Mine that has produced two other very famous titanium-bearing mineral Benitoite and Neptunite. Relatively few Fresnoite specimens of quality have been recovered compared to Neptunite and Benitoite nearby, and many (such as this one) were collected during an aggressive mining operation around 1999-2000 by dealer and miner Scott Kleine. This superb thumbnail is competition level, and was one of the best singles recovered in that find, and comes with his personal collection label. This thumbnail consists of a geometric trio of bright yellow Fresnoite crystals from 1 to 1.4 cm in size that have great luster and form, almost resembling Wulfenite. The Junnila Mine started as a Benitoite recovery operation that actually turned out to have rather poor Benitoite production, but in a few historic spurts yielded these superb Fresnoite crystals instead. This is one of the finest examples of the species as a single crystal, and makes for a competition worthy thumbnail specimen of huge rarity.