Detailed information
Species
Delvauxite
Dimensions
44 x 67 x 34
mm
Weight
80 g
Locality
Leoben Leoben District Styria, Austria
Condition
No recorded repairs
This fascinating large miniature specimen comes from the comprehensive rare species collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021). It is labelled as Delvauxite, a valid, but questionable amorphous hydrated iron calcium phosphate sulphate hydroxide. However, accompanying the specimen is an old (probably 19th century) handwritten label documenting it as "Bořickyit (Delavauxit)" from Leoben. The occurrrence at Brandberg Mt., Leoben, Styria was first reported during the 1850s as Delavauxene, but renamed Bořickyit by James Dana in 1868, indicating that the label was written slightly later than 1868. This specimen is richly infused with reddish-brown and orange-brown 'Delavauxite'. An interesting historic piece for those intrigued by the history of mineralogy and naming conventions.