[Krystyna]

   
English: Hydroxylherderite
Locality: Xanda mine (Xandra mine), Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil (Locality at mindat.org)
This is one of the great crystals from the first and best find of purple herderites at Xanda mine in october of 1978, as shown in the Bancroft bookGem & Crystal Treasures. It has GLASSY lustre on all sides, is pristine, and is perfectly and 3-dimensionally formed. It is very transparent! Moreover, the color is INTENSE purple, not the usual pale lavender hue. Bill Larson and Ed Swoboda personally flew this specimen to New York and sold it to noted collector John Saul, who owned it until recently. It is 360 grams - lightweight mineral, i guess. you expect it to have more heft, visually, as the visual impact is both stunning and "weighty" . This is the finest crystal of the species from this find that I have seen outside of a very few museums, hands down. I believe it to be one of the most significant pieces I have had to offer. 7.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm
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