Matrix hambergites are for some reason rare, and for that matter good sharp crystals are pretty rare on a worldwide basis in and of itself. Afghanistan has recently produced some of the best yet known, for the species. Some are giants, but few are sharp, and gemmy as we have here. This specimen hosts a gorgeous, 2.3 x 1.1 x 1 cm crystal of hambergite, sharply twinned and with SHARP faces and edges as opposed to the usual etched faces we often see. Both the sharpness and the twinning are extremely uncommon, even from this productive locale. It is perched as if floating on a cloud of albite matrix. Especially for the size range, I can hardly imagine a better example.
Attribution: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
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