Franklinite Octahedron with Willemite
Collection
Robert Lavinsky
Description
An exceptionally dramatic piece with a stark 4 cm octahedral Franklinite just sitting nicely in matrix of Zincite, Willemite, and Calcite. The crystal is remarkably free of cracking, which happens often in larger crystals; and also free of shoe polish and glue fill in said cracks - a more frequent occurrence than we specimen collectors like to admit. But, in the old days, it was almost a tradition to fake and build up broken Franklinite crystals in matrix! Luckily, this one survived and was never played with. It probably dates to older workings in the late 1800s to early 1900s, and is not recently found.
Locality
Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey
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