Home > Lead Minerals – December 31 > MS1158 Altaite
Altaite - Sold
- Hilltop mine
- Organ Mountains
- Doña Ana County
- New Mexico
- U.S.A.
- 3.3 by 2.5 by 2.1 cm – Thumbnail specimen (fits into a 2.5 cm cube)
Altaite is lead telluride with the rock salt crystal structure. Haidinger (1845) named the species after the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan, site of the original discovery. This is an iridescent mass of altaite with minor matrix. The iridescent blue, green and yellow hues are quite eye-catching!
This specimen was part of the personal collection of Ralph Merrill, proprietor of the prolific mail order business Minerals Unlimited. Merrill obtained this piece from Scott Williams, whose private collection label is present. Merrill's collection card and label also ship with the specimen.