Ilvaite

Ilvaite is a calcium-iron silicate and this superb crystal is from its type locality at Rio Marina on the Isle of Elba in Tuscany, Italy.  At a little under 7 cm tall it may just be classed as a miniature, certainly a large miniature and stands vertically by itself without additional support on its horizontally cleaved base.  The main Ilvaite crystal is surrounded by numerous smaller crystals around its lower half and all aligned towards a common apex.  All crystals are opaque with a metallic lustre and vary between dark chocolate brown and caramel.  Most of the Ilvaite crystals, including the main crystal, have excellent terminations and display the crystallography of Ilvaite superbly.