Two crystals of Mn rich Willemite (Troostite) in Calcite collected by Wallace Gould Levison in 1889. While the Troostite variety of Willemite is only known from the Franklin and Sterling mines, this specimen was actually collected in Jersey City, New Jersey at the Zinc Works there. It was found in a load of Zinc ore transported from Franklin to the smelter there, so this is unique, being probably the only Troostite that was not collected from Franklin. The Willemite crystals are a brick red color, well-formed though with typical slightly crude edges up to 3.1 CM. We will include a photocopy of the handwritten ledger from the Levison collection. Levison was a prolific 19th century collector located in Brooklyn who became very interested in the fluorescent minerals of Franklin. He invented and patented a specimen viewing box for shortwave UV light in 1909. A nice specimen with a great provenance.
Andradite (var. polyadelphite)
stock #19.1-516
Franklin/ Sterling Hill
New Jersey,
United States
4.8 x 4.1 x 3.8 CM (miniature)
price: $290
Spring 2020
Sharp Franklin New Jersey Garnets with the Orange-Brown color that was once called Polyadelphite. This is a Mg rich type of Andradite, but it is not recognized as a separate specie and the name is not used as much now. This is an old specimen, there are several collection numbers and one handwritten label attached. The main Garnet is 2.3 cm across, the form is quite good and relatively complete for one of these. Classic Franklin material this looks like others I have seen from the Buckwheat but there is no further information. A choice Franklin crystal.
