2T1503 Dingdaohengite
Mulanje Massif, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi
7.1x 0.7x 0.5 cm
$620
An incredibly rare example of the rare earth bearing silicate dingdaohengite, cosisting of a ~5.5 mm crystal perched on the side of a spray of aegirine crystals. There were a very small number of these samples available in Tucson this year, discovered at a new locality near the more famous Mt. Malosa location.
The mineral was first discovered in the Bayan Obo REE deposits and was approved by the IMA in 2005, though the samples from this find are probably some of the best (and certainly among the few macroscopic crystals) around.
