Detailed information
Species
Diaoyudaoite
Dimensions
9 x 12 x 11
mm
Weight
1 g
Locality
Jersey Garden Mall Port Elizabeth New Jersey, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
Diaoyudaoite is an unusual sodium aluminium oxide mineral reported from just a handful of localities worldwide but debate continues regarding whether it is natural or a man-made substance. This Diaoyudaoite thumbnail specimen from Jersey Garden Mall at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021). Reportedly, this mineral was found in material previously dredged from the sea floor in Newark Bay during a project to deepen the bay which was then used as fill in the construction of the shopping mall. In those circumstances there is unlikely to be any more material recovered. It is a pure crystalline aggregate, composed of cream-yellow platy crystals with a pearlescent lustre.