RARE, large MANGANITE crystal from ILFELD, GERMANY - mined in the 1800's 3+ cm For Sale

Exceptional, single, robust Manganite crystal from Ilfeld, Harztor, Nordhausen District, Thuringia, Germany.Large crystal with glistening metallic luster! An old European classic!(Ex. Carlton Davis Collection.)
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DIMENSIONS (approx.)3.4 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm
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DESCRIPTION:Excellent quality Manganite crystal from the historic late 1880's find in Ilfeld, Germany! This piece, of an appreciably large size (for the species) of 3.4 cm tall, features attractively striated prism faces leading up to a broad, chisel-shaped termination. Bright, metallic luster abounds across this crystal, most notably on the prism faces, contrasted by a few minute Barite crystals in association on the reverse. A tiny Manganite pokes down from the middle of the crystal, whose growth was inhibited by a partial Barite as well.
I should point out that is unusual to encounter a solitary crystal from here, as the Ilfeld Manganites almost always formed as tight clusters of a multitude of crystals - making this one all the more special for its solo stature!This sleek, black Manganite subtly tapers upwards from the base to the termination, further adding to its allure.There appears to be a point of contact or other growth interruption at the upper left of the crystal, which is atrivial matter in comparison to everything else that makes this piece so special and does not detract from its significance, in my opinion.
The manganese deposit at Ilfeld, Thuringia, Germany is the Type Locality for Manganite, of which the best of species came out in the late 1880's find! So not only is this locality the first recorded occurrence for the species, but also produced the very best ever found - not to be surpassed by any other discovery since, not even with 140 years of modern mining techniques and expertise! Suffice to say, this historic occurrence will most likely never be eclipsed!This piece was in my personal collection for years but I feel it's time now for it to go to a new home where it will be cherished as much as it has been in mine...
These are so hard to find, especially in good quality, as time goes on. This is actually the only one I have ever had the pleasure of owning!Any Ilfeld Manganite you see in collections or (rarely) available on the market came from the classic finds in the late 1800's - no new discoveries were made afterwards and the mine has been defunct for well over a century. These oldtimers are rare classics that are extremely coveted by collectors of fine European minerals and old classics alike. These only come up for sale from old collections or when a collector decides to deaccession.Don't miss your chance to add such an exceptional specimen to your collection!This excellent Manganite specimen is so much better in person. My pics and video does little justice for this piece compared to having it in hand! It has a surprising heft for its size!
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Please note:Buyer assumes all tax (sales tax and/or VAT) and any import domestically via USPS Ground Advantage - FREE IN THE UNITED STATES!For INTERNATIONAL ORDERS, items will ship via USPS PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL. Rates vary based on buyer's location, please see the shipping section near the top of this listing (below the "Make Offer" and "Add to Watchlist" options) for cost details.I will be happy to combine multiple items to reduce the shipping cost, please message me before committing to purchase if you intend to buy multiple items!I will almost always have your item(s) shipped within two business days upon payment.
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INTERNATIONAL BUYERS:

Please check with your country's customs department, as I (the seller) am not responsible for any loss or custom duties and/or VAT.

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PHOTOGRAPHY:I shoot my pictures and videos in natural settings with actual sunlight, and/or in a photo/light box with LEDs calibrated as close as possible to neutral lighting, in order to accurately convey the color and quality of a given specimen.
I never use filters or other enhancements, or any sort of gimmick to unethically portray a specimen as better than it is in reality.I firmly believe in "what you see is what you get".However, please note that your screen settings may differ from mine, and color may appear slightly different on your screen.I'm a collector too, and as a buyer, I definitely appreciate specimens shown accurately and described accurately as well.
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QUESTIONS?Please note, any questions or requests MUST be asked before committing to purchase! Feel free to send me a message at any time.I am a huge rock nerd. I can gab for days about most mineral species, localities, and related topics. Please, know that I would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this specimen and locality!
Be sure to check out my other listings as well!Thanks for looking! :)