Pyrolusite

Pyrolusite, a manganese dioxide species, is one of those minerals which commonly occurs as a minor coating or association and not specifically the mineral on display!  This could not be further from the case with this incredible small cabinet specimen from Gremmelsbach in The Black Forrest of Germany.  Covering a 1 cm thick matrix of a pale pink micaceous granite, quite outstanding acicular, metallic black-silver Pyrolusite crystals stand vertically in diverging sprays of between 2.5 and 5 cm tall.  All crystals have a magnificent bright lustre, often tinged with a pale bronze patina.  About half the crystals are nicely terminated (the taller crystals), with the remaining cleaved, probably along the line of contact while in-situ.  This area is renowned for its Pyrolusite specimens.  A wonderful specimen from the Josef Clemente (1899-1987) Collection of southern Germany.