Description/Interesting Notes:
An extraordinary example of gummite with uraninite and zircon from New Hampshire!!! This old time specimen consists of a large,
polished slab that hosts a very rich, colorful showing of gummite with uraninite and zircon var. cyrtolite!!! In
addition, this specimen comes with a corresponding, framed photoradiograph (x-ray)!!!
Polished examples of ANY uranium bearing species are quite scarce nowadays due to
the perceived hazards involved with such activity - however decades ago the public fear of radioactivity was not as great!!!
You would simply not see something like this today!!! The polish is quite fine as well, allowing one to see all kinds
of subtle and attractive features in the gummite (Gummite actually consists of a characteristic assemblage of colorful
uranium bearing species including boltwoodite, clarkeite, curite, kasolite, soddyite, and uranophane among others)!!! The attractive, dendritic pattern of the uraninite as it alters into the
colorful secondary species contained in the gummite is quite striking in person!!!
This specimen dates to the late 1930's and is from the locality that gave the famed mineral dealers, the Schortmann brothers,
their start in the business!!! The Schortmann's lived near the Ruggles Mine and shortly after a trip there to collect this
very material they discovered that the mineral business was a viable endevour and this launched their long and illustrious
careers in the mineral business!!! This specimen retains an old label from the Schortmann's affixed to the back of the
photoradiograph as well!!!
As if this specimen wasn't already incredible enough in its own right, it is paired with a
corresponding, framed photoradiograph!!! This photoradiograph clearly shows, in detail, this specimens radiographic profile
(note the activity of the dark black areas of uraninite and the intense, orange and yellow colored gummite as well!)!!!
This specimen is as much an incredible display of uranium-related mineralogy as it is a significant piece of 20th century mineral
history as well!!! The slab has an affixed wire on the reverse so that it could easily be hung or mounted as such in a shadow box!!!
Absolutely incredible!!!
The pics hardly do it justice!!! Must be seen in person to be fully appreciated!!!
Good luck and be sure to check out my other exciting mineral auctions on ebay!!! STAY TUNED!!! MORE AUCTIONS WILL BE ADDED MONDAY NIGHT FOR A SPECIAL 3-DAY AUCTION, ENDING THURSDAY AUGUST 2nd
!!!
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