Mellite

Mellite is an unusual organic compound, an aluminium benzene hexacarboxylate hydrate.  This deep golden-honey coloured octagonal crystal is from Artern in the Unstrut Valley of Thuringia, Germany.  The only mineral recorded from this locality is Mellite and is its type locality.  The crystal measures 1.5 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm; the upper four faces being virtually complete whereas the opposite, lower four faces exhibit contact points making each face uneven.  The specimen is mounted on a small, elegant, glazed white porcelain pedestal, attached by honey-coloured wax.  A good representative crystal of this rare organic mineral.