Witherite (rare GREEN color) (ex Brian Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

Some of the finest crystallized examples of Witherite are those from Southern Illinois. Typically, these crystals are a soft cream / beige color, but rarely you will see pieces that feature a highly desirable GREEEN hue. Very few of these exist on the market, and I'm told that they were found in the 1960s and never again. If you collect Southern Illinois minerals, or worldwide carbonates, do NOT miss out on this one. This small cabinet specimen features excellent, classic, translucent crystal groups of soft green colored Witherite measuring up to 3.4 cm across on matrix. The green hue is actually caused by minor nickel content, the same chromophore that causes the green color in Chrysoprase, and sometimes the nickel sulfide Millerite will oxidize to a green color. The back of the specimen features a bit of blue cubic Fluorite and white Alstonite(?) to confirm it's from the Minerva No. 1 Mine. These are incredibly hard to find, so don't miss out. Valued at $3,000. From the collection of Brian Kosnar, originally from Ross Lillie (#RCL 0872).