Skip to product information
1 of 2

CC21572

PARACELSIAN

PARACELSIAN


Size:
45 x 90 x 67 mm
Regular price $3,500.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $3,500.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
View full details

Detailed information

Species Paracelsian
Dimensions 45 x 90 x 67 mm
Locality Benallt Mine, Rhiw Llanfaelrhys, Lleyn Peninsula Gwynedd, Wales
Condition No recorded repairs
Benallt manganese mine on the Lleyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, is an amazing locality but one not that well-known to collectors unfamiliar with the British Isles. The mine initially operated for eight years between 1886 and 1894 but it was then later reworked on two separate occasions which produced a suite of rare and interesting species, some new to science. It was the first reopening, in 1911, that produced Paracelsian and the second, during the Second World War, that produced the Type Locality species. Visiting the site today, the mine dumps appear to offer only waste rock, but to the trained eye, a whole wealth of rare minerals can be found, including four for which this mine is the Type Locality. Remarkably Paracelsian, a rare barium aluminium silicate, is not one of them, but Benallt mine should perhaps lay claim to this title, having produced magnificent specimens when the official Type Locality in Italy produced only a single, poorly formed crystal and nowhere else on Earth has produced any more. This present small cabinet display piece is a splendid example. It was collected by Sir Arthur Russell in 1911 and is accompanied with his handwritten label. The specimen is composed almost entirely of Paracelsian, with crystals of up to 1.5 cm long richly covering a more massive matrix of anhedral Paracelsian intermixed with black manganese oxides. This is a magnificent, world-class example of this exceedingly rare mineral from Benallt mine. As with all Paracelsian from Benallt mine, the specimen fluoresces an intense red colour under SW UV light.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I order a specimen?

Start by adding the specimen to your cart and either log in or, if you haven't done so already, create an account by registering. Once you have logged in confirm your shipping details are correct, select your preferred shipping method and proceed to the payment screen.

Please note that we do not send any specimen on approval without payment.

What shipping methods do you offer?

We offer a number of different shipping methods, depending on locality and availability. Generally we try to ship using a courier to ensure the speedy and safe delivery of your new mineral specimen, however, other methods are available upon request.

What payment methods do you accept?

Crystal Classics have the ability to accept credit or debit card payments, or payments via PayPal. We currently accept payments from the following card types:

  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • Visa Debit
  • Discover
  • JCB

At present, we cannot accept payments using American Express.

We can also accept payments via cheque or bank transfer. If you wish to purchase a specimen and pay using either of these methods, please contact us.

I bought a specimen but it is not what I expected or was damaged in transit. Can I return the specimen?

Inevitably, sometimes things don't go as expected. Whether the specimen is damaged in transit or the identity is incorrect, we are aware that this can result in the return of a specimen.If your specimen is damaged during shipping, it is vitally important to take a photo of the packaging and specimen in situ. By recording this, we get an idea of the nature and possible reason behind the damage and will be able to process the return much faster.If you discover that the mineral species has been misidentified, we require details of the method of identification in order to understand why you believe this to be the case. If the identity is in question but no formal analysis has been attempted, Crystal Classics will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, this may mean the specimen is sent for analysis to determine the identity.In any scenario where a specimen is analysed and the species in question is not present on the specimen, we will provide a full refund.If you feel that the specimen was misrepresented in any way, please ensure you make contact with us within the 30 day grace period for resolution.In all instances, please ensure that you call or e-mail us immediately, prior to the return of a specimen to Crystal Classics, so that we can advise regarding the returns procedure. Failure to contact us prior to the return of a specimen may lead to the rejection of your return.Shipping costs of all returns are to be covered by the customer, unless the specimen was damaged in transit or if the identity is incorrect.