Detailed information
Species
Wodingite, var. Tantalowodginite , Lepidolite
Dimensions
58 x 91 x 51
mm
Weight
231 g
Locality
Dara-i-Pech Pegmatite Field Chapa Dara District Konar Province, Afghanistan
Condition
No recorded repairs
Normally, rare species are either very small, or ugly looking, but this Wodingite var. Tantalowodginite from the gem-tourmaline bearing lithium pegmatites at Dara-i-Pech Pegmatite Field in Konar Province, Afghanistan is actually quite fun to look at. Not only is it extremely well-formed for this manganese-tin-tantalum oxide species, but the crystal is very large (2.7 cm) and presents a magnificent glossy to resinous lustre and its bright white Albite-Lepidolite matrix provides a dramatic contrast for display. Split at one end by a 'prism' of pearlescent Lepidolite, the brown Wodginite crystal is actually a multi-terminated, possibly twinned crystal. For a crystal so glossy and fresh it does, remarkably, show natural pitting, or etching at one end of the crystal, but this does not detract from its beautiful form and there is no contact damage whatsoever. The flatish, slightly angled plate of Albite-Lepidolite matrix, is itself quite interesting, with clusters of bright white thin, platy Albite var. Cleavelandite crystals intergrown with elongated stacks of pearlescent Lepidolite. There can't be many better looking Wodingite crystal specimens out there.
