Frankeite - well-crystallized
stock #21.1-284
San Jose Mine, Oruro
Potosi,
Bolivia
4.6 3.8 x 3.7 CM (miniature)
price: $880
New Year 22
A complete floater, crystallized on all sides with slender blade-like crystals of Frankeite radiating in clusters and ball-like aggregates. An incredibly rare mineral, all the best specimens known came from just a few small finds in Bolivia, this is a superb example from what may be the best of those discoveries about 35 years ago. Not long ago Frankeite was often called the rarest Sulfosalt in the world. That may have been true then but today that statement is not true though it is still very super rare. The well-formed balls and clusters are distinctive for this special find at the San Jose Mine. In excellent condition, this displays well from any angle. Ex Dr. Eugene Sensei Collection. As far as we know there have been no more found since about 2005.
Franckeite has always been an incredibly rare mineral and was only known in micro crystals until the major find in 2004 of what was then called Potosiite. This is now known to be a variety of Franckeite with less tin than usual. This was not a large find but the better specimens were quickly gobbled up by collectors and are almost never available now. This piece was one of those major specimens, it is from a collection we are liquidating for the owner and retains the original Kosnar label. In incredible condition for this delicate mineral with individual crystals that reach over 1 CM, in clusters and free standing masses. This piece also has crystals of the original Franckeite that is not the Potosiite variety so this brings two of the world's rarest Sulfosalts on a single matrix. For the species, this is also an esthetic piece, with very three dimensional form and a good metallic luster.
.jpg)
