Detailed information
Dimensions
48 x 58 x 28
mm
Weight
22 g
Locality
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM Montérégie, Québec, Canada
Condition
No recorded repairs
With its exotic chemistry as a hydrated sodium zirconium silicate it is no surprise that Elpidite is a rare species. Discovered in Greenland during the 1890s, it was not until the famous Poudrette quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada started to really catch the attention of mineral collectors during the 1960s, that extremely rich crystallized Elpidite was found and these are now known as the world's best examples of the species. Ex David Hardman Collection, this really large miniature specimen is an extremely fine, hedgehog-like aggregate of almost pure Elpidite, but unlikely many that are seen, the freestanding needle-like crystals are mostly in exceptional condition. Never especially pretty as a species, this is certainly a very wonderful display of how rich the crystallized aggregates can be.