An absolutely magnificent example of this rare species from the type locality!!!
This specimen hosts a dense grouping of intergrown amesite crystals in assocition with pale lavender to grayish diaspore, magnetite, and a small amount of rutile!!!
The amesite crystals have rich green color, a slight degree of translucence on edge, and a slightly pearly luster!!! The pics simply do not
do this classic and historic New England combo justice!!! It is quite handsome and lively in person!!! The magnetite is sharply euhedral,
the diaspore has very glassy luster, and the intense red rutile provides a lively accent!!! This specimen retains an old U.S. National
Museum label that says "part of material described by Shannon (Earl V.): American Journal of Science (4),49,96,1920."!!! Earl Shannon did
critical work describing this species and this specimen was part of the material used for his description!!! Here is a direct quote from his
work from the American Journal of Science where he describes the specimen he used: "This specimen is labeled 'amesite and diaspore,
Chester, Mass' The specimen consisted of a large flat mass of
diaspore showing pale grayish-pink cleavages ... One side of the specimen is completely coated with a layer of flat amesite crystals
of a pale green color somewhat iron
stained. Scattered through the mass of the diaspore there are variously oriented crystals of amesite, large octahedrons of magnetite and crystals
of dark red to black rutile. The amesite occurs in tabular hexagonal crystals with dull prismatic faces. " Information also in the article mentions that
original specimen's label was "in the handwriting of C. U. Shepard and the label bears also the words "Coll. by E. Messia," by which is probably meant Macia,
a French Canadian, for many years foreman at the emery mine and an ardent collector of minerals"!!!
This is simply a magnificent specimen and, of course, it retains its original U.S. National Museum label as well!!! The pics hardly do it justice!!!
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