JWHITE-19
Koettigite
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.6 x 0.9 cm
Ex. John S. White
SOLD
A very fine spray of relatively large crystals for the species, from the locality generally regarded as having produced the best. These levels of the Ojuela are now watered and inaccessible, and good koettigite has not been found since good legrandite was - 30 years ago, now. This was purchased at the Salt Lake show in 1969 to Beth Gordon, a collector-dealer who sold it to John White later. I find his back-of-label note amusing..."$75, overpriced." Mineral collectors have always thought that rarities in particular were overpriced! Especially when they first come out and we do not have a context. Certainly an understandable comment to make in this case, for a small matrixless group of crystals that arent neon yellow ecxactly. However, his judgement proved correct because these ARE the finest of species, and this piece DOES turn out to be, in hindsight, an excellent thumbnail specimen with superb crystals.