Dragon Minerals - January 28, 2026 Update

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03154: Iowaite, Valleriite (?), Magnetite, Chondrodite and Gypsum variety Selenite - $50
Bench 30, Palabora Mine, Phalaborwa, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa
Small cabinet - 8.0 x 5.2 x 2.7 cm
106 grams
Specimen status: Reserved
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Cleaved, water clear gypsum (variety selenite) hosts sparse iowaite (in small, turquoise crystals), less sparse magnetite (as tiny, magnetic octahedra) and sparse chondrodite (as one gemmy, orange crystal as well as orange masses). A previous dealer label indicates valleriite to be present; if it is, it is only present as microscopic grains. All of this sits on a rock matrix. This same dealer label also lists clinochlore instead of chondrodite but this is very likely an error. Iowaite - Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2ยท4H2O and valleriite - (Fe2+,Cu)4(Mg,Al)3S4(OH,O)6 are both globally rare species, which (according to a previous collection label) form 'a unique association found in only a single pocket".







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