USA-67
Magnetite
ZCA Mine No. 4, Balmat, St Lawrence Co., New York, USA
Small Cabinet, 9.2 x 7.7 x 5.9 cm
Ex. Ken Hollmann
SOLD
This is a very hefty, showy, and unusually large, example from this hard-to-get locality. These magnetites to me are best of species - I know some will disagree, choosing instead the sharp Swiss octohedra. But, for me, I like the metallic, jet black, complex cubes of the NY Magnetites better - and the specimens are larger and more pretty, overall, too. This is a major classic but more than that something really different for a common species normally relegated to the drawers and not to display in a showcase. This is part of a larger piece formerly in the State Museum of NY, traded out to Ken Hollman. When I got it, it had not been prepped yet to remove the calcite and expose all the crystals. This calcite coating did protect many crystals, and several of the major ones (to 1.5 cm) are indeed pristine, though there is damage to smaller crystals and to larger crystals on the periphery. Nevertheless, an impressive specimen and price adjusted to give a good deal based on the presence of damage scattered about. Ex. Ken Hollman Collection