Description
This specimen features sharp, lustrous, terminated crystals of montebrasite, flush up against an albite matrix. The montebrasite crystals are twinned (the twinning re-entrants are up against the feldspar, visible upon close inspection with magnification). Sharp, lustrous well-formed crystals of montebrasite above micro-size are uncommon, particularly on matrix. Some were collected at the Telirio claim, and this is from those finds. This specimen is in excellent condition, I can find one chip, on the crystal at the lower right, and the crystals are singly-terminated, not complete at the bottom. Stands perfectly for display as photographed. Ex. Cal Graeber.
The Telirio claim has now been closed down, as environmental regulators deemed it too close to the river to be operated. It is expected that there will be no further mining at the Telirio.
These are beautiful, well-developed crystals – a top quality montebrasite.
