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Graphite on Diopside with Fluorite Rossie Township, St. Lawrence County, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, June-July, 2018. The graphite crystals composing this piece are silver/gray in color, exceptionally clean and most show nice hexagonal form which is very uncommon from specimens from this find. More importantly the crystals show clearly the well-developed, reticulated patterning on both sides of each crystal. The piece measures 5 x 4 x 3.5 cm and has crystals to 1.7 cm each. The crystals are nicely separated on a matrix made of diopside crystals. The matrix has been stabilized and the crystals are all complete and interesting. Excellent views from any side. This example is better in-hand than the images indicate and probably the best value of all the specimens offered. $1,200

Background…  Large graphite crystals are very rare things that few collectors will ever have a chance to add to their mineral collection. The specimens seen here were discovered in the summer of 2018. The find consisted of a single pocket connected to a section of mineralized vein. In total approximately 30 specimens were recovered.  These are comparable with the finest from anywhere in the world. Why?  First of all these crystals are exceptionally large (up to 8 cm each). They were found as individual crystals, crystals delicately perched on matrices of massive and sometimes crystallized minerals, and in rare instances as interlocking clusters of crystals. What makes these graphite crystals even more interesting is that most have an attractive reticulated surface patterning. This patterning has be referred to as six rayed, snowflake-like, and stellate dendrites. Whatever we call it, visually it is a nice feature.  The crystals are normally fully terminated, have ragged looking terminal edges, and they are often naturally curved, or found embedded in fluorite or calcite (both of which formed after the graphite). Associated minerals include calcite, fluorite, diopside, feldspar, and mica. If specimens are stabilized it is done with the acryloid B-72, sometimes in a vacuum chamber, and the stabilizing fluid is applied to the matrix, not the graphite crystals.  In most cases I consider these specimens are fragile to be shipped and they have to be picked up at any of the shows we do around the country.

Graphite on Diopside with Fluorite

SKU: GD-1352
$1,200.00Price
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