Detailed information
Species
Wermlandite, Pyroaurite
Dimensions
66 x 68 x 25
mm
Weight
82 g
Locality
Långban Filipstad, Värmland Sweden
Condition
No recorded repairs
Wermlandite is an extremely rare hydrated talc species: a hydrated magnesium aluminium hydroxide calcium hydrate sulphate. Described from Långban in 1971 it has only been reported from one other ore district worldwide - Persberg - also in Värmland (Wermland), but Långban really is the only place where significant, albeit microscopic, crystals have been found. This very large miniature specimen is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021) and features many blue grey to teal blue platy microcrystals on white Calcite matrix. Wermlandite is one of the hardest Långban species to acquire and this is an exceptionally large piece compared to others that have come available in recent years. However, it should be noted that many specimens of reported Wermlandite have turned out after detailed analysis to be Pyroaurite - a magnesium iron hydroxyl carbonate hydrate which was also first discovered at Långban. This specimen has not been analysed by us and there are no details of who the Gunther's acquired the specimen from.
