Natural History - Medium Sized Green Beryl Mineral Specimen Group [50]

A cut slice of scarce achondrite from the diogenite group recorded as: Northwest Africa 5480; displayed in a Swiss membrane box. 11.7 grams, 48 mm (58 grams total, 99 x 75 including case)



From the Sahara, N.W. Africa. Ex Hupe collection, U.S.A. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection.

The total known mass of the meteorite found in Mali was 4.91 kg. Mineralogically, the diogenites are primarily composed of magnesium-rich orthopyroxene, with minor amounts of plagioclase and olivine. The pyroxenes are usually coarse-grained, suggesting a cumulate origin for the diogenites in magma chambers within the deeper regions of Vesta's crust. The achondrites of this group are named after a 5th century B.C. Greek philosopher Diogenes of Apollonia, who was the first to suggest that meteorites originate from outer space.

Comprising: pyromorphite from Mexico Mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England, collection number 568, with an old Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd label; chalcopyrite on bornite from North Transvaal, South Africa, collection number 33; annabergite from Laurium, Greece, collection number 493, with an old Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd label; a cut and polished slice of labradorite from Labrador, Canada, collection number 444; green fluorite crystal from Queensland, Australia, collection number 524; biotite from Canada, collection number 17; amazonite, collection number 323; a polished slice of crazy laced agate, collection number 397; kyanite from Brazil, collection number 356. 215 grams total, 27-81 mm



Acquired on the UK mineral and fossil market, since 1970. From the historic mineral collection of Richard Valentine Cain, London, UK, thence by descent. Each specimen accompanied by an original historic index file card.

Comprising two polished specimens containing several insects and other inclusions. 39 grams total, 7.8-11.2 cm



From Madagascar. Acquired 1950s-1960s. From an old Bristol, UK, palaeontological collection.