This stunning miniature specimen is a classic from the N'Chwaning mines in North Cape Province, South Africa. Mounted upright for display on a small acrylic base, this beautiful piece features two world-class Gaudefroyite crystals. This extremely rare calcium manganese borate carbonate oxide/hydroxide was first described from Morocco in northwest Africa, but the mineralogically diverse N'Chwaning mines in South Africa have produced - like they have done with so many other species - much, much better crystals and in a variety of forms. This particular habit - a pyramidal hexagonal prism - is a feature of N'Chwaning II mine and is to many, the ultimate crystal form for Gaudefroyite. On this specimen the largest crystal of this form reaches 1.3 cm in length and is doubly-terminated with superb development of lateral growth lines. The second crystal is smaller and missing its lower section, but is still nicely terminated. Both sit on the classic Andradite-Hematite matrix. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).
