Mellite

Mellite is an very 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 upper four faces are virtually complete whereas the opposite, lower four faces exhibit contact points making each face somewhat uneven.  The specimen is mounted on a small, elegant, glazed white porcelain pedestal, attached by honey-coloured wax.