World’s Largest Crystals

Dimensions: 7.62 m x 2.44 m x 1.83 m

Volume: 34.02 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 102,060 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.00 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Hugo Mine, Keystone, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts: Non-existant – Mined.

From Rickwood (1981): Dr. J. J. Norton (Pers. Comm. 27.ll.79) has written “The crystal was one that had been mostly mined, hence was not seen in its entirety, but enough of it remained to allow an estimate of its size.” It was not photographed. The density of 3.00 g/cm³ has been derived from Kostov’s (1968, p.450) values of 3.ll g/cm³ (amblygonite) and 2.98 g/cm³ (montebrasite) together with the stated composition Mo₈₅ (Norton et al., 1962, p.8l).
Ziegler (1913, p.1056) described mineral occurrences at the Hugo Mine, Keystone, South Dakota, U.S.A. and wrote of amblygonite, LiAlPO₄(F,OH): “The latter mineral occurs quite irregularly in nodules and pockets, sometimes of great size. Thus one shoot of practically solid amblygonite showed on the face of the open cut for a distance of 15 x 22 x 40 ft. (4.57 x 6.71 x 12.19 m). Masses 300 to 400 lb (136-181 kg) in weight are frequently found,….” Nowhere did he imply that these were single crystals as Norton et al. (1962, p.77) have reported. However, Dr. Norton has written (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) “So far as I can remember, all amblygonites I have seen were single crystals, whether small or large (I have seen probably a dozen of 5 tons (4,536 kg) or more). I am not aware that amblygonite ever fonns large aggregates of small primary crystals in pegmatites. Certainly it does not at Hugo. But it is possible that large crystals have been found close enough to each other to be regarded by miners as a single body, and reported as such by them to a geologist, who is unliksly to be present long enough to see the whole situation
as the amblygonite is uncovered during mining.” Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm., 6.6.80) has written, “The amblygonite masses of the Hugo, Bob Ingersoll, and Tinton deposits all have the appearance of uniform material and as I remember each individual mass had no obvious difference in cleavage in different parts of the body. We considered them crystals, but their rounded irregular outer shape caused us to call them masses. I saw similar masses of amblygonite at the Bikita mine in Southern Rhodesia in 1957 only my recollection is they were even larger in size and a few had shapes suggesting crystal faces.”

References:

Loh, S. E. and Wise, W. S., 1976, Synthesis and fluroine-hydroxyl exchange in the amblygonite series: Canadian Mineralogist, v. 14, p. 357-363.

Norton, J. J., Page, L. R., and Brobst, D. A., 1962, Geology of the Hugo Pegmatite, Keystone, South Dakota: USGS Professional Paper, 297-B, p. 81.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.03 x 0.038 x 0.043 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: 1 kg (500 carats) (estimated)

Assumed Density:

Origin: Pulsifer Quarry, Auburn, Maine, USA

Today’s Whereabouts: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA

Photo courtesy: EarthquestMinerals.com

Photo courtesy: M. I. Jacobson (2016, p. 6)

Known as the “Roebling Apatite” or “Roebling Purple Apatite” this

References:

Jacobson, M. I., 2016, The Roebling Purple Apatite, Pulsifer Quarry, Auburn, Maine: Friends of Mineralogy, v. 46, n. 1, p. 6-9.

International Gem Society (accessed Dec. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.18 m x 0.15 m x 0.012 m

Volume: 0.00324 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 20.09 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 6.2 g/cm³

Origin: Bolivia

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #C51 in the Cranfield Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 18 m x 3.5 m (diameter)

Volume: 143.2 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 379,480 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.65 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Malakialina, Madagascar

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): The reported mass (estimated as 250 tons) requires a density of only 1.75 g/cm³ if metric units and a hexagonal cross section are assumed. The length and weight confirmed by Dr. A. Gsell (Pers. Comm., 4.5.77) but he stated a slightly smaller diameter of 3 m which is consistent if he measured between hexagon edges and if the larger diameter was measured between corners. Jensen and Frigstad (1967, p.16) recorded the same length (18 m) and a diameter of 5 m, but the latter is probably erroneous in view of the similar estimates of the two local geologists who saw the crystal in 1964.
A tapered beryl crystal 33 feet long (10.06 m) and 6 feet (1.83 m) in diameter was recorded by Stevens (1972, p.50) as having been found in 1950 at the Bumpus Quarry, Albany, Oxford County, Maine, U.S.A.
The crystal reported by Waldschmidt (1920) as being the largest known of beryl came from the Bob Ingersoll mine, South Dakota, U.S.A., and had a diameter of 1.17 m (46 in.) and a known length of 1.12 m (44 in.).

References:

Jensen, B. and Frigstad, O. F., 1967, Large beryl crystals: Internal Notes, Geologisk Museum, Oslo, 7th Dec., 16.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Stevens, J. P., 1972, Gems and minerals of Oxford County (Maine): privately published, Perham’s Maine Mineral Store, West Paris, Maine, 216 p.

Waldschmidt, W. A., 1920, The largest known beryl crystal: Pahasapa Quarterly (Black Hills Engineer), v. 9, p. 11-16.

Dimensions: 0.48 m x 0.38 m (diameter)

Volume: unknown

Mass: 104 kg

Assumed Density:

Origin: near Marambaia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Today’s Whereabouts:

This specimen was entered into the Guinness World Records as the largest aquamarine

References:

Dimensions: 0.014 m x 0.034 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: 0.0108 kg (54 carats)

Assumed Density: unknown

Origin: unknown

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

Red beryl (aka bixbite and red emerald) is a small, rare variety of beryl that is best known to occur in the Wah Wah Mountains of Utah, USA. Synthetics are known to be in extistance as well. I have not yet found authentication of this crystal.

References:

RockCollector.co.uk

Noospheregeologic.com

Hurrell, K. and Johnson, M. L., 2016, Gemstones: A Complete Color Reference for Precious and Semiprecious Stones of the World, United States: Book Sales, p. 80

Oldershaw, C., 2003, Firefly Guide to Gems, United States: Firefly Books, p. 129

Dimensions: 1.25 m x 0.78 m x 0.55 m

Volume:

Mass: 536 kg

Assumed Density:

Origin: Madagascar

Today’s Whereabouts: BaoQu Tang Modern Art Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2008)

This specimen was entered into the Guinness World Records in 2008 as the largest emerald in matrix.

References:

Guinness World Records (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions:

Volume:

Mass: 341 kg (whole rock)

Assumed Density:

Origin: mine near Bahia, Brazil

Today’s Whereabouts:

Photo courtesy: LA County Sheriffs Dept./Reuters

Photo courtesy: LA County Sheriffs Dept./Reuters

The Bahia Emerald is a schist specimen that was mined in 2001 containing an estimated 180,000 carats of emeralds within it. I have yet to find any record indicating the sizes of any of the individual emeralds within this sample. It has undergone a lengthy custody battle. After theft and a tangled web of unscrupulous history, it is locked away in the possession of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

References:

GeologyPage.com (accessed Nov. 2020)

Wikipedia (accessed Nov. 2020)

Wired (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: unknown

Volume: unknown

Mass: 1.38 kg (6,900 carats)

Assumed Density: unknown

Origin: unknown

Today’s Whereabouts: Dion Tulk (owner), Medici Collection LLC, Los Angeles, California, USA

Photo courtesy: Guinness World Records

This specimen was entered into the Guinness World Records on 09 March 2020 as the largest morganite.

References:

Guinness World Records (accessed Nov. 2020)

Medici Collection, LLC (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 3 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 3 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Rosås, Iveland, Norway

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Fersman (1931, p.119) stated that a biotite crystal, K(Mg,Fe)₃ (AlSi₃O₁₀) (OH,F)₂ with an area of 7 m² had been found in a feldspar mine at Evje, Norway and Barth, who worked on this area, mentioned 2-3 m flakes of both muscovite and biotite (1928, p464) and specifically gave Rosas, Iveland as a location for 3 m long biotite flakes (1931, p.118).

References:

Barth, T. F. W., 1928, Zur Genese der Pegmatite im Urgebirge. 1. Die Geologie und Petrographie der granitishen Pegmatite im Südlichsten Norwegen. Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie: Geologie und Paleontologie, v. 50, p. 385-432.

Barth, T. F. W., 1931, Feltspat III, Forekomster I Iveland og Vegusdal I Aust-Agder og I Flere Herreder I Vest-Agder: Norges Geologiske Undersokelse, 12B, p. 118.

Fersman, A. E., 1931, Les Pegmatites: Leur importance scienctifique et pratique, 3 vols, Academie des sciences de L’U.R.S.S. Leningrad 1931.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.51 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 2.40 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: John-Manville Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

Photo courtesy: Berman and West (1932)

This specimen is a ferroan brucite ((Mg,Fe)(OH)₂) that was reported to have “aggregates of fibres reaching a length of 20 inches,” but no other dimensions were provided.

References:

Berman, H. and West, C. D., 1932, Fibrous brucite from Quebec: American Mineralogist, v. 17, n. 7, p. 313, fig. 1.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: >0.2 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 2.40 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Wood’s and Low’s Mines, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

From Rickwood (1981): “The world’s finest specimens came from Wood’s and Low’s chromite mines near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; crystals to 7″ (17.8 cm) across have been recorded as well as broad cleavages of snow-white color and fine pearly lustre over 8″ (20.3 cm) across. (Fig. 159)”; Sinkankas (1964, p. 339). The specimen shown in Fig. 159 is stated to be 7 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ (19.1 x 8.3 cm) and may be a single cleavage block.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Dimensions: 0.14 m x 0.08 m x 0.01 m

Volume: 0.000112 m³(estimated)

Mass: 0.27 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.40 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Texas, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

Today’s Whereabouts: American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York, USA

From Rickwood (1981): This is the largest crystal fro which full dimensions are available; it is in the American Museum of Natural HIstory, New York, U.S.A.; Frondel (1935, p. 472).
This museum possesses two other noteable brucite specimens from this locality:
(i) “…a cleavage surface with longest dimension = 19 cm..”; Frondel (1935, p.472).
(ii) A block with crystals 10 x 8 cm; Guillemin (1964, p.3; 1972, p. 103).
Sinkankas (1964, pp. 339-340) reported brucite occurring as “Fine white cleavage plates to 4″ (10.2 cm) x 7″ (17.8 cm) in marble from Wakefield,…”.

References:

Frondel, 1935, p. 472.

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Dimensions: 7 m x 7 m x 2 m

Volume: 93.82 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 254,252 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.71 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Helgustadir, Reydarfjördur, Iceland

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

From Rickwood (1981): The rhombohedral edges habe been assumed equal on one face so that the volume is the product of each of the dimensions and sin²78.08°. These three sets of measurements may relate to the same crystal and hence the data of Descloizeaux (1847, p.770) may have been misquoted. Indeed, Palache et al. (1951, p.155) and Bancroft (1973, p.128) reported the crystal to be 20 x 6.5 feet (6.10 x 1.98 m) and Palache (1923, p.363) previously indicated dimensions of 6 x 2 m to have been gained from an unstated account by Descloizeaux.

References:

Bancroft, P., 1973, The world’s finest minerals and crystals: Thomas and Hudson, London.

Descloizeaux, M., 1847, Note sur le gisement du spath d’Islande: Bulletin de la Societe géologique de France, 2nd Series, v. 4, p. 768-772.

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy: translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburg, p. 536.

Palache, C., 1923, The largest crystal: American Mineralogist, v. 17, p. 362-363.

Palache, C., Berman, H., and Frondel, C., 1951, The system of mineralogy of J. D. Dana and E. S. Dana: Yale University 1837-1892, 7th edition, v. 2, halides, nitrates, borates, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, arsenates, tungstates, molybdates etc.: John Wiley and Sons, Inc, New York.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 6 m x 6 m x 3 m

Volume: 103.39 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 280,187 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.71 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Helgustadir, Reydarfjördur, Iceland

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.30 m x 0.30 m x 0.20 m

Volume:

Mass:

Assumed Density:

Origin: Bigadic, Turkey

Today’s Whereabouts: Izmir University

Photo courtesy: GeologyIn.com

References:

GeologyIn.com (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.76 m x 0.61 m x ≤0.0064 m

Volume: 0.00297 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 15.4 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 5.20 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Bob Ingersoll Mine, Dike No. 1, Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Hanley (1953) described the minerals at the Bob Ingersoll Mine, Keystone District, South Dakota, U.S.A. and stated (p.77) that in Dike No. 1 the wall zone of cleavelandite-quartz-muscovite pegmatite contains “Columbite, commonly in thin plates as much as 2.5 ft long (0.76 m) and 2 ft. wide (0.61 m),…” In Dike No. 2 the quartz-albite pegmatite is coarser at the 4,950 ft. level than at the sufrcace, “…, and columbite plates are as much as 2.5 ft. long (0.76 n) and 1.3 ft. wide (0.40 m) at this level.” (p.79). Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm. 6.6.80) described these as being “…very thin, as I remember, about one quarter of an inch or less.” (≤0.0064 m).

References:

Hanley, J. B., 1953, Bob Ingersoll Mine (Keystone District): USGS Professional Paper, v. 247, p. 75-83.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.61 m x 0.51 m x 0.51 m

Volume: 0.159 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 827 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 5.20 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Ingersoll No. 1, Black Hills, S. Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): This was recorded by Jahns (1953, p.569) to be a crystal, however in the source reference Blake (1884, p.341) clearly stated it to be a “mass” and Ziegler (1914, p.656) was in no doubt that this was an aggregate. Professor R. H. Jahns (Pers. Comm. 19.8.77) has written that he called it a crystal because of a description given to him by “…a reliable individual…” who judged the continuity of rude cleavage surfaces to indicate that “the bulk of the mass however, evidently was a single poorly formed crystal”. This crystal was “…sparsely studded with relatively small, roughly faced crystals in somewhat diverse orientation” and no doubt led to use of the terms mass and aggregate. Blake (1884, p.341) wrote “… weighing by calculation, taking the specific gravity at 6, not less than 2000 pounds (907 kg), or one ton”. In fact, a density of 6.4 g/cm³ is compatible with his measurements but as he also stated the material to be “nearly pure columbite” a density of 5.2 g/cm³ is more appropriate, so yielding a weight of 825 kg.

References:

Blake, W. P., 1884, Columbite in the Black Hills of Dakota: American Journal of Science, 3rd Series, v. 28, p. 340-341.

Jahns, R. H., 1953, The genesis of pegmatites. 1. Occurrence and origin of giant crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 38, p. 563-598.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Ziegler, V., 1914, The mineral resources of the Harney Peak pegmatites: Mining and Scientific Press, v. 108, p. 604-608, 654-656.

Dimensions: 0.65 m x 0.40 m (diameter)

Volume: 0.0356 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 152 kg

Assumed Density: 3.98 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: near Mica Siding, Transvaal, South Africa

Today’s Whereabouts: Museum of the Geological Survey, Pretoria, South Africa

Photo courtesy: Hall (1920) and Rickwood (1981, Figure 4)

From Rickwood (1981): The dimensions of this crystal (Fig. 4) were obtained by measurement of Hall’s (1920) Plate XXI and are larger than values reported by Palache (1923, p.363) who gave 61 cm and 30 cm, the latter distance being clearly in error. The shape is roughly a cone on a hemispherical base and a volume calculated for this form is only in accord with the stated mass of 335 lbs. (152 kg) if the density is 4.27 g/cm³. The crystal was found at Cleveland Rhone Tributes, a working on the left bank of Sudimani (or Sudimane) Spruit, south of Manuel’s Kop (or Manual Beacon), 13.5 km NE of Mica Siding, about 25 km SW of Phalaborwa, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. It is on display in the museum of the Geological Survey, Pretoria, South Africa. Note that Guillemin (1964, p.1) erroneously stated the mass to be 160 kg.

References:

Hall, R. L., 1920, Corundum in the northern and eastern Transvaal: Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir, v. 15, p. 128, pl. XXI.

Palache, C., 1923, The largest crystal: American Mineralogist, v. 17, p. 362-363.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.31 m x 0.165 m x 0.14 m

Volume:

Mass: 21.955 kg

Assumed Density:

Origin:

Today’s Whereabouts: Rajiv Golcha (owner), Prestige Gems & Jewels, Bangalore, India

This specimen, known as “The King Ruby”, was entered into the Guinness World Records on 03 June 2009 as the largest ruby.

References:

Guinness World Records (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.109 m x 0.0905 m x 0.058 m

Volume:

Mass: 1.293 kg (6,465 carats)

Assumed Density:

Origin: Believed to be from India

Today’s Whereabouts:

References:

REFERENCE

Dimensions: 0.15 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 5.99 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Reid (1925, p.12) wrote “The most important bodies, both as regards quantity and quality, occur at the Dundas Extended, West Comet, and Adelaide Mines where crystals of hyacinth red and deep scarlet colour, 10 to 12 centimetres long, with perfect terminations, are found…”. Subsequently in mine descriptions the only mention of such crystals is under the heading of Adelaide Mine (“…3 to 6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm) in length…” p.79). A later publication (Tasmanian Dept. Mines, 1970, p.37), lists 10-12 cm crystal of crocoite only at the Dundas Extended and West Comet Mines.

References:

Reid, A. M., 1925, The Dundas Mineral Field: Tasmania Department of Mines, Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 36.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Tasmania Department of Mines, 1970, Catalogue of the minerals of Tasmania: Tasmania Department of Mines, Geological Survey Record, v. 9.

Dimensions: 0.11 m x 0.011 m x 0.011 (estimated) m

Volume: 0.0000133 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 0.080 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 5.99 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Today’s Whereabouts: Edward Swoboda (owner), Los Angeles, California, USA

From Rickwood (1981): This crystal is in the collection of Edward Swoboda, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. The second dimension has been determined from the photograph published by Bancroft (1973, p.141) and the third dimension has been assumed. Sinkankas (1964, p.403) wrote “The largest single crystals, sometimes terminated, reached length of 3½” (8.9 cm) and diameters of ⅜” (0.95 cm).

References:
Bancroft (1973, p. 140, 141)
Bancroft, P., 1973, The world’s finest minerals and crystals: Thomas and Hudson, London.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Dimensions: unknown

Volume: unknown

Mass: 0.6334kg (3,167 carats)

Assumed Density: 5.99 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Lençóis, Bahia, Brazil

Today’s Whereabouts: Non-existant – Broken into small pieces for drill bits in 1895

From Wikipedia: This diamond, named Sergio, “is the largest carbonado and the largest rough diamond ever found. It weighed a gigantic 3,167 carats (633.4 g; 20.36 ozt) and was found above ground in Lençóis (State of Bahia, Brazil) in 1895 by Sérgio Borges de Carvalho. Like other carbonados it is believed to be of meteoritic origin.”
Sergio was first sold for $16,000 and later for $25,000 to Joalheria Kahn and Co. and shipped to G. Kahn in Paris, who sold it to I. K. Gulland of London in September 1895 for £6,400. There, it was broken up into small 3–6-carat (0.60–1.20 g; 0.021–0.042 oz) pieces as industrial diamond drills.”

References:

GeologyIn.com (accessed Nov. 2020)

Wikipedia (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions:

Volume:

Mass: 0.0702 kg (351 carats)

Assumed Density:

Origin:

Today’s Whereabouts:

As of 1987, this is the largest rough ekanite known.

References:

Gems & Gemology, 1987, Large ekanite found: Gems & Gemology, Summer, p. 123.

Dimensions: 2.13 (diameter)

Volume: 5.06 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 16,090 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.18 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: A Dyke, Petaca District, New Mexico, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981: A spherical shape was assumed for calculation; Professor A. H. Jahns has stated (Pers. Comm. 25.4.77) that the speciman was accurately measured.

References:

Jahns, R. H., 1946, Mica deposits of the Petaca District, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Resources Bulletin, v. 25.

Jahns, R. H., 1953, The genesis of pegmatites. 1. Occurrence and origin of giant crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 38, p. 563-598.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.25 m x 0.25 m x 0.25 m

Volume: 0.0156 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 118 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 7.58 g/cm³

Origin: Great Laxey Mine, Isle of Man, UK

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #BM 61213 in the British Museum of Natural History, London, UK

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 3)

From Rickwood (1981): The Fersman Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, U.S.S.R., has a cube of pyrite 25 x 18 x 15 cm from Aktchitao, Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R. (Guillemin, 1964, p.4; 1972, p.98), and the Institute of Mineralogy, Heidelberg, Germany has a pyritohedron of pyrite 20 cm (in diameter?) from Rio Marina, Elba, Italy (Guillemin, 1964, p.1).

References:

Greg, R. P. and Lettsom, W. G., 1858, Manual of the mineralogy of Great Britain and Ireland: John van Voorst, London.

Palache, C., 1923, The largest crystal: American Mineralogist, v. 17, p. 362-363.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 2.3 m

Volume: 10 m³

Mass: 37,500 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.75 g/cm³

Origin: Kristiansand, southern Norway

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): This is an irregularly shaped shell of garnet around a block of limestone, and it may be a crystal aggregate. The density was calculated, not assumed, and is almost certainly smaller than the true value; the reported weight (37.5 tons) was taken to be in metric tonnes. A sketch accompanies both references and from it the maximum dimension of the garnet is measured as 2.3 m, a value incompatible with the stated volume estimate (10 m³) even if the limestone
is included.

References:

Barth, T. F. W., 1930, Zur Genesis der Pegmatite im Urgebirge. 11. Ein syntektischer Gesteinskomplex aus dem Südlichsten Norwegen: Chemie der Erde, v. 4, p. 95-136.

Barth, T. F. W., 1962, Theoreticol petrology: John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 1 m x 0.7 m x 0.4 m

Volume: 0.176 m³

Mass: 700 kg

Assumed Density: 3.98 g/cm³

Origin: Gjølanger, western Norway

Today’s Whereabouts: Natural History Museum, Bergen, Norway

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 8) and Dr. B. A. Sturt

From Rickwood (1981): Subsequently, Kolderup (1960 ,p.74) stated “Here a giant crystal, measuring 90 cm, was found”… , and Kostov (1968, p.318) recorded “In the western part of Norway garnet has been found as porphyroblasts with a diameter of 1 m in amphibolite”. These accounts probably relate to the same specimen which is the very imperfect dodecahedral crystal, (Fig. 8) mentioned in Table l, and which is kept at the Natural History Museum, Bergen, Norway. Note that the volume has been calculated from the reported mass and density.

References:

Kolderup, N. H., 1960, Origin of Norwegian eclogites in gneisses: Norsk Geologisk Tidskrift, v. 40, p. 73-76.

Kolderup, N. H. and Rosenqvist, I. T., 1950, Giant garnet crystals from Gjølanger, western Norway: Univ. Bergen Arbok, v. 6, p. 3-10.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Rosenqvist, I. T., 1951, Kjempegranaten fra Gjølanger: Bergen tidende, l5th Dec.

Dimensions: 0.91 m (diameter)

Volume: 0.395 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 1,544 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.91 g/cm³

Origin: Barton Depsoit, Gore Mountain, Adirondacks, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): The form was stated to be roughly spherical and the calculated mass of 1.70 short tons accords with the reported value of “over 1.5 tons”. (Levin, 1950, p.546). The density is the mean of ten values for type XH garnets as given by Levin (1950, Table l).

References:

Levin, S. B., 1950, Genesis of some Adirondack garnet deposits: Bulletin of thc Geological Society of Ameriea, v. 61, p. 519-565.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.003 m x 0.0015 m x 0.001 m

Volume: 0.0000000045 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 0.0000153 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.40 g/cm³

Origin: Likasi, Shaba, Zaire

Today’s Whereabouts: Musee de I’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium

From Rickwood (1981): This specimen is in the Musee de I’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium; Dr. M. Deliens (Pers. Comm. 20.8.79). Guillemin (1964, p.l) reported that this museum had a larger crystal (1.5 cm long) from this occurrence; however, Dr. Deliens has indicated that during a recent re-examination of the entire collection it was found that the crystal was malachite and not gerhardtite.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.30 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 19.3 g/cm³

Origin: Mother Lode, California, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Sinkankas (1964, p.280) mentioned “… octahedral plates to 12″ broad …” (0.30 m) from an unspecified location in California, but the Curator, Mineral Museum, Division of Mines and Geology, State of California, U.S.A. cannot confirm this occurrence. (Mrs. E.M. Learned, Pers. Comm. 28.9.79).

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Dimensions:

Volume:

Mass:

Assumed Density:

Origin:

Today’s Whereabouts:

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 3.05 m x 0.43 m x 0.43 m

Volume: 0.564 m³

Mass: 1,308 kg

Assumed Density: 2.32 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Braden Mine, Chile

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Palache (1923, p.363) wrote “Gypsum Chile, Braden Mine.. 10 ft. x 3 in. (3 meters x 8 cm) Lindgren”; however, Lindgren (1933, p.685) stated “A crystal of gypsum 10 feet long and 2 feet in diameter was found in a cave…”. A square cross section has been assumed with a diagonal length of 2 feet (0.61 m), hence side length is 17 inches (0.43 m).

References:

Lindgren, W., 1933, Mineral deposits, 4th edition: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York.

Palache, C., 1923, The largest crystal: American Mineralogist, v. 17, p.362-363.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 11 m

Volume:

Mass: ~55 tonnes

Assumed Density:

Origin: Cave of Crystals, below Naica Mtn., Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico

Today’s Whereabouts: Cave of Crystals, below Naica Mtn., Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico

References:

Guiness World Records (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 1.1 m x 1.1 m x 1.1 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: unknown

Origin: Merkers Potash Mine, Thuringia, Germany

Today’s Whereabouts: unknown

Photo courtesy:

References:

GeologyIn.com (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.92 m x 0.54 m x 0.23-0.13 m

Volume: 0.038 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 303 kg

Assumed Density: 7.90 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Gressk, Minsk Oblast, Belarus

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): This specimen is “… a monocrystal hexahedrite …” being described as “an irregular bowlshaped mass, with an overall length of 92 cm and a width of 54 cm; it attains a thickness of about 23 cm along the edges but is only 13 cm thick near the center”. (Dr. B. Mason, Pers. Comm. 3.1.79).
The density of kamacite was found by Henderson and Parry (1954) to be 7.90±0.02 g/cm³.
As this is extraterrestrial material, this entry is additional to those of terrestrial minerals.

References:

Henderson E. P. and Perry, S. H., 1954, A discussion of the densities of iron meteorites: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 6, p. 221-240.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 2.44 m x 0.91 m x 0.91 (estimated) m

Volume: 2.02 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 3,854 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 1.908 g/cm³

Origin: Kramer, Kern County, California, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): As the habit is stated by Palache et al. (1951) to be nearly equant, the second and third dimensions have been assumed equal. Note that Schaller (1930, p.137) wrote that “some of the crystals are of immense size, the largest one seen measuring 8 feet (2.44 m) (c axis) by 3 feet” (0.91 m). This crystal was confirmed to exist by Dr. V. Morgan (Pers. Comm. 12.1.79) and is still in situ in old underground workings now closed by Federal mine regulations (Dr. J. Siefke, Pers. Comm. 22.4.80).

References:

Palache, C., Berman, H., and Frondel, C., 1951, The system of mineralogy of J. D. Dana and E. S. Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, 7th Edition, vol. 2, Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates etc.: John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Schaller, W. T., 1930, Borate minerals from the Kramer District, Mohave Desert, California: USGS Professional Paper, v. 158-1, p. 137-l70.

Dimensions: 0.016 (estimated) m x 0.016 (est.) m x 0.016 (est.) m

Volume: 0.00000436 m³

Mass: 0.02 kg

Assumed Density: 4.59 g/cm³

Origin: Pampa del Pique III, or Pampa Grove, Chile

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): If linear dimensions are calculated on the basis of the axial ratios ~0.6331:1:0.6462, then the greatest length is 2.20 cm.

References:

Dietze, A., 1891, Einige neue chilenische Mineralien Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie und Mineralogie, v. 19, p. 445-451.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: >0.15 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 4.01 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Ojuela Mine, Mexico

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Dr. P. G. Embrey wrote (Pers. Comm., 1.1.79), “I have seen 4″ (10.2 cm) prisms, although we have none of this size, and I believe a specimen is known with 6″ (15.2 cm) prisms or perhaps longer”.
Wilson (1978, p.35) wrote about a … “remarkable single 8 inch (20 cm) spray of legrandite…” but no details are presently available.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Wilson, W. E., 1978, What’s new in minerals: Mineralogical Record, v. 10, n. 1, p. 31-35.

Dimensions: 49.38 m x 35.97 m x 13.72 m

Volume: 6,214.41 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 15,908,890 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.56 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Devils Hole Beryl Mine, Fremont County, Colorado, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Hanley et al. (1950, p.60) wrote “The mass of microcline exposed in the north face of the main open-cut is about 75 feet (22.86 m) wide and 40 feet (12.19 m) thick at the maxinum and has an area of 2,337 square feet (217.11 m²), yet individual cleavage planes extend unbroken across the entire mass, which is probably a single crystal”. These dimensions correspond to the open cut area on Section CC’ of their Plate 7, but the entire area of microcline shown on that section has a maximum length of 118 feet (35.97 m), a width of 45 feet (13.72 m) and the surface area is 2912 sq. feet (270.5 m²). Cross sections through the pegmatite are drawn at 35 foot (10.67 m) intervals and cross sectional areas of microcline age nil (EE’), 141.3 m² (DD’), 270.5 m² (CC’), 11.12 m² (BB’) and 20.15 m² (AA’). Thus continuity of microcline seems probable from 3 m south of EE’, as indicated on the plan, to somewhere south of AA’; a minimum distance of 138 feet (42.06 m). However, Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm., 6.6.80) has stated that “This deposit had been mined, for about 125 feet (38.10 m) at right angles to the cleavage. The miners claimed that the cleavage had remained the same througbout the pit lenglh. I have always maintained that this was the largest crystal I’d ever seen”. As the north face of the open cut is shown as being about 101 feet (30.78 m) north of AA’, the microcline is likely to have extended a further 24 feet (7.32 m) south of AA’. Hence, the probable maximum length of microcline is 138 + 24 = 162 feet (42.05 + 7.32 = 49.38 m); the maximum breadth and width have been taken as those shown on section CC’. It is much more difficult to estimate the original volume for the eastern portion of the microcline has been truncated by erosion and mining. Simple surface reconstruction, to allow for mining, increases the area of microcline from 20.15 m² to 67.3 m² on AA’, and from 11.12 m², to 167.7 m² on BB’; however, compensation for erosion is too subjective to be of value. Accordingly, using areas shown as the reconstructions on AA’; to DD’ and assuming zero area at the presumed termination points, the total volume has been calculated (using equations for a cone and its frustrum) to be 6214.41 m³ (219,459.8 ft.³) and the mass to be 15,908,890 kg(17,536.6 short tons).
This may have been the largest crystal ever discovered but it cannot be regarded as fully authenticated, particularly in respect to the microcline having been one single crystal throughout.

References:

Hanley, J. B., Heinrich E. W., and Page, L. R., 1950, Pegmatite investigations in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah 1942-1944: USGS Professional Paper, v. 227.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 4.27 (estimated) m x 4.27 (est.) m x 4.27 (est.) m

Volume: 78.13 m³ (estimated)

Mass: >200,000 kg

Assumed Density: 2.56 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Frikstad 9 (“Steli”) Pegmatite, Iveland, Setesdal, southern Norway

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Fersman (1931, p.119) recorded a 100 tonne microcline, KAlSi₃O₈, crystal from Norway which was l0 m long, Barth (1928, p.4O4) mentioned microcline crystals between 5 and 10 m in length as occurring in dykes in Iveland, Norway, and Barth (1947, p.53) (1960, p.40) also described pegmatites cutting amphibolite at Evje, Norway as being “… very coarse-grained, feldspar and quartz, SiO₂, crystals attaining 8 metres in length”. These are all general statements which cannot be found in detailed descriptions of the feldspar mines of this area as given by Andersen (1931), Barth (1931, 1947, 1960) and
Bjørlykke (1935). Both Barth (1931, p.114) and Bjørlykke (1935, p.217-219) recorded microcline crystals with faces up to 6 m in length, and weighing more than 100 tons, at Tveit, Norway and specifically at Tveit-3, one of six pegmatites in the area. Barth (1928, p.419) also recorded 6 m long microcline crystals at Rudjord in Lyngdal, Norway.

References:

Bjørlykke, H., 1935, The mineral paragenesis and classification of the granite pegmatites of Iveland Setesdal, Southern Norway: Norsk Geologisk Tidskrift, v. 14, p. 211-311.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 9.14 m x 3.66 m x 2.13 m

Volume: 71.25 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 185,250 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.66 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Tveit, Iveland district, north of Kristiansand, Norway

Today’s Whereabouts:

References:

Bjørlykke, H., 1935, The mineral paragenesis and classification of the granite pegmatites of Iveland Setesdal, Southern Norway: Norsk Geologisk Tidskrift, v. 14, p. 211-311.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.06 m x 0.027 (estimated diameter) m

Volume: 0.0000379 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 0.274 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 7.24 g/cm³

Origin: Tsumeb, Namibia

Today’s Whereabouts: Keith Proctor Collection, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 7) and Dr. Wendell E. Wilson

From Rickwood (1981): This specimen is in the collection of Keith Proctor, Colorado Springs, U.S.A.: the photograph (Fig. 7) was previously published by Wilson (1977, p.62). The diameter between prism faces of this hexagonal crystal has been estimated from the photograph. A slightly smaller crystal (2 in. long x 1 in. diameter: 5.1 cm x 2.5 cm diam.) from this locality was mentioned by Key (1977, p.49).

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Wilson, W., 1977, Folio:Tsumeb! Mineralogical Record: v. 8, n. 3, p. 55-85.

Dimensions: 4.57 m x 3.05 m (diameter)

Volume: 27.61 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 77,111 kg

Assumed Density: 2.79 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Inikurti Mine, Nellore, India

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Holland (1902, p.63) noted that this specimen was “… l0 feet across the basal planes and up to 15 feet across the folia.”
Sinkankas (1964, p.482) wrote “The world’s record (muscovite, KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀) (OH)₂) for size is held by a single crystal from the Inikurti Mine, Nellore, India which measured l5 feet (4.57 m) in length and l0 feet (3.05 m) in diameter and delivered a total of 85 tons (77,lll kg) of muscovite”. A density of 2.79 g/cm³ accords with this data, and is within the range given by Kostov (1968, p.361) i.e.,2.76-3.0 g/cm³ and indicates little substitution by iron. A hexagonal cross section, l0 feet between apices, has been assumed for calculation purposes.

References:

Holland, T. H., 1902, The mica deposits of India: Memoir of the Geological Survey of India, v. 34, part 2.

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy, translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister: Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Dimensions:>2.44 m x > 1.52 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 2.79 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Purdy Mica Mines, Ontario, Canada

Today’s Whereabouts: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 11) and Dr. J. A. Mandarino.

Photo courtesy: Hershel Friedman and Minerals.net

From Rickwood (1981): Harding (1944, pp.34-35) wrote “One large mica crystal of phenomenal size, discovered by Justin Purdy and extracted by Purdy Mica Mines in 1943, was the source of spectacular sheets of clear muscovite with dimensions greater than 5 by 8 feet. One sheet from this huge crystal, one of the largest ever encountered in the history of Ontario mica-mining, was secured by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto”. This, the largest authenticated phyllosilicate is shown in Figure ll; Harding (1944, p.34) published a photograph of a similar specimen which may have come from the same crystal.

References:

Harding, W. D., 1944, The geology of the Mattawan-Olrig Area: Ontario Department of Mines, v. 53, p. 1-47.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Minerals.net (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.174 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 2.52 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Tarapaca, Chile

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #BM66038 in the British Museum of Natural History, London, UK

From Rickwood (1981): This is specimen BM66038 in the British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K. and is a bundle of subparallel fibrous crystals. The measurements were made by the author and Mr. P. Tandy (31.10.80).

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 1.14 m x 0.38 m (diameter)

Volume: 0.0938 m³

Mass: 375 kg

Assumed Density: 4.0 g/cm³

Origin: Arendal, Norway

Today’s Whereabouts: Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 9) and Staffan Waerndt

From Rickwood (1981): This crystal is roughly circular in cross section and consists of a cylinder 49 cm x 37.8 cm diameter, between two truncated cones, 32 cm and 33 cm high with smallest diameters of 17.8 and 13.9 cm respectively (Fig. 9). All dimensions have been calculated and are based on the 40 cm rule included in the photograph taken by Staffan Waerndt. The volume has been calculated assuming the above idealized form. The calculated mass of 375 kg is slightly larger than the 300 kg estimated by Dr. B. Lindquist (Pers. Comm. 19.1.79) who reported that the “crystal is rather flattened so I prefer to estimate its weight by transforming it into a box shape, the edges being 55, 15, and 90 cm respectively. Assuming density 4.0 the mass should then be 297 kg, i.e., around 300 kg.” (13.2.79). The crystal is on display at the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 10 m x 10 m x ˂0.40 (estimated) m

Volume: ˂39.69 m^3> (estimated)

Mass: 101,605 kg

Assumed Density: 2.56 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Ural Mountains

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): The reported weight is assumed to have been in long tons. Hurlbut (1968, p.l4) recorded the dimensions as 30 x 30 feet (9.14 x 9.14 m).

References:

Hurlbut, C. S., 1968, Minerals and Man: Random House, New York.

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy, translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister: Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

Lindgren, W., 1933, Mineral deposits, 4th edition: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 10.06 m x 4.27 m (diameter)

Volume: 119.14 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 333,592 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.8 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Lacey Mine, Loughborough Township, Ontairo, Canada

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Calculations have been based on an assumed hexagonal cross section. Palache (1923, p.363) estimated the total weight as “… not less than 90
tons” (81,647 kg) but this is far too low for the stated dimensions. He also attributed the data on this specimen to Ellsworth, but no mention of it can be found in the numerous publications of the latter (Mr. H. R. Steacy, Pers. Comm., 4.11.77, 20.1.78; Professor L. G. Berry, Pers. Comm., 3.2.78). de Schmid (1912, p.141), Spence (1929, p.69) and Hewitt (1968, p.29) recorded a phlogopite crystal from this mine with a stated diameter of “over 9 feet” (2.74 m).

References:

Hewitt, D. F., 1968, Phlogopite mica in Ontario: Ontario Department of Mines, Mineral Resources Circular, v. E.

Palache, C., 1923, The largest crystal: American Mineralogist, v. 17, p. 362-363.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

de Schmid, H. S., 1912, Mica, its occurrence, exploitation, and uses: Canada Department of Mines Publication, v. 118.

Spence, H. S., 1929, Mica: Canada Department of Mines Publication, v. 701.

Dimensions: 6.10 m x 1.52 m x 1.52 (estimated) m

Volume: unknown

Mass: 39,916 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density:

Origin: Manchõ Felipe, near Itaporé, Goiaz, Brazil

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): The largest quartz (SiO₂) crystal which has been substantiated was found at Manchõ Felipe, near Itaporé, Goiaz, Brazil (Frondel, 1962, p.244) and was 20 feet long (6.10 m), 5 feet (1.52 m) across a prism face and was estimated to have weighed over 44 tons (39,916 kg.). If the crystal was regular in shape, and lacked pyramid faces, then the volume would have been 36.78 m³ and the mass 97,479 kg; the weight estimate is less than half of this calculated
value and must be questionable. Campbell (1946, p.797) described quartz “Crystals up to 6 m long with the prism face 1.5 m wide were seen,” some of which were shown in the photographs that accompanied his paper.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.33 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 6.10 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Japan

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Frondel (1935, p.473) stated that this specimen is in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, U.S.A., but it has not proved possible to obtain additional data. Further, he wrote the name “Wada” after his entry relating to this crystal, but in the book on the minerals of Japan by that renowned mineralogist (Wada 1904, p.72-76), the largest scheelite crystal is one of 9 cm (p.75) on a specimen from Sannotake, Buzen Pt, Japan. Sinkankas (1964, p.433) wrote: “A number of localities in Japan provide specimens, and from an unidentified souce, an enormous crystal 13″ (33 cm) from tip to tip is recorded by the Japanese mineralogist Wada. Very large crystals also come from Korea, as at Taehwa, and rudely dipyramidal crystals to about 6″ (15.2 cm) length, have been recorded.” Previously (p.431) Sinkankas had recorded wolframite crystals “to 5″ lengths” (13 cm) from Quartz Creek district, Gunnison County, Colorado, U.S.A. and the greater density (c 7.31 g/cm³) of this mineral would probably result in these crystals having the largest known mass for a molybdate. However, none of these claims can be considered to be adequately substantiated.

References:

Frondel, C., 1935, The size of crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 20, p.469-473.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Wada, T., 19O4, Minerals of Japan, translated by T. Ogawa: Tokyo.

Dimensions: 0.2 m x 0.145 m x 0.12 m

Volume: 0.000960 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 5.855 kg

Assumed Density: 6.10 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Kramat Pulai, Perak, Malaysia

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): This scheelite crystal from Kramat Pulai, Malaya (Specimen BMl937, 98) was reported by Guillemin (1964, p.3) to be “octaedre de 20 cm”. Inspection of the specimen (31.10.80) revealed that this dimension was approximately correct for the distance between the most remote apices of the square bipyramid. Subsequently, Mr. P. Tandy, British Museum (Natural History), U.K. has written (Pers. Comm., 3.12.80, 13.2.81) to report that the base edges are 12 cm long and the others are 14.5 cm. Thus the calculated volume is 1128.77 cm³ and for a density of 6.1 g/cm³ the corresponding mass is 6685.50 g. However, the actual weight is 5855 g for some of the corners are missing. An encrustation of fluorite complicates matters but ignoring it, for its mass is unknown, yields a calculated volume of 959.84 cm³.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.18 m x 0.12 m x 0.11 m

Volume: 0.00136 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 8.28 kg

Assumed Density: 6.10 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #97239 in the Geological Museum, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 6) and Dr. C. A. Francis

From Rickwood (1981): This is an elongate and truncated octahedron (Fig. 6), Specimen #97239 in the Geological Museum, Harvard University, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Professor C. Frondel (Pers. Comm. 23.1.79) reported its weight as 18¼ lbs. (8.28 kg) and this has been confirmed by Dr. C. A. Francis (Pers. Comm. 12.7.79) when the latter sent a sketch with edge lengths. Guillemin (1964, p.1) reported inaccurate dimensions of 20 x 10 cm.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.006 m x 0.004 m x 0.002 m

Volume: 0.000000016 m³

Mass: 0.000118 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 7.39 g/cm³

Origin: San Rafael Mine, Sierra Corda, Caraoles, Chile

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #86453 in the British Museum of Natural History, London, UK

From Rickwood (1981): Specimen 86453 in the British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K. The crystals are “… as much as 6 mm across and are honey-yellow to reddish-brown in colour.” “The crystals are very flat, and their contour is square with more or less rounded corners. They are formed of eight low pyramids, four above and four below, directly above one another in pairs. The pyramids are so much rounded that the shape of the crystals approximates to a very flat cone.”; Smith and Prior (1911, p. 78-79). Mr. P. Tandy (Pers. Comm., 3.12.80, 13.2.81) stated that the largest crystal is a distorted, flattened bipyramid with a volume of 16 mm³.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Smith, G. F. and Prior, G. T., 19ll, On schwartzembergite: Mineralogical Magazine, v. 16, p. 77-83.

Dimensions: 14.33 m x 0.8 m x 0.8 (estimated) m

Volume: 9.17 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 28,427 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.1 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Etta Mine, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 10) and Shaller (1916, Plate VA)

From Rickwood (1981): Spencer (1928, p.259) recorded this crystal as being “47 feet in length with a cross section 3 to 5 feet, and from it 90 tons of material was quarried …”. These data are a curious admixture of those for several crystals described by Schaller (1916, p.138). The second dimension (80 cm) has been estimated from the photograph (Fig. l0) and a square cross section was assumed. This was the longest crystal discovered at this locality, but it was thinner than the subsequently mentioned specimen which yielded the greatest volume and mass.
Waldschmidt (1920, p.ll) wrote “At the Etta Mine, … , spodumene crystals have been mined that were more than fifty feet (15.24 m) long and from four to six feet (1.22-1.83m ) in diameter.” However, this claim seems doubtful.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Schaller, W. T., 1916, Gigantic crystals of spodumene: USGS Bulletin, v. 610, 138 p.

Spencer, L. J., 1928, Large specimcns of spar from the Snailbeach Mine, Shropshire: Natural History Magazine, v. 1, n. 7, p. 258-265.

Waldschmidt, W. A., 1920, The largest known beryl crystal: Pahasapa Quarterly (Black Hills Engineer), v. 9, p. 11-16.

Dimensions: 12.80 m x 1.83 m x 0.91 m

Volume: 21.32 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 66,092 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.1 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Etta Mine, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Kostov (1968, p.340) recorded rounded metric measurements (13 m x 2 m x 1 m) and a mass of 65 tons (58,967 kg. if short tons) from which an improbable density of 2.27 g/cm³ is derived. Ziegler (1913, p.1054; 1914, p.655) recorded a smaller crystal, 42 feet long and 5 ft. 4 in. maximum diameter (12.8 m x 1.63 m maximum diameter) which, “would yield 90 tons (81,647 kg) of spodumene” (1914. p.655) but would necessitate an impossibly high density of 4.8 g/cm³ if the “diameter” is the diagonal of a square cross section. The tabulated crystal was decayed and yielded only 37 tons (33.6 tonnes) of spodumene;
Hess (1911, p.650).

Reference:

Hess, F. L., 1911, Lithium: in Mineral Resourccs of the United States, calendar year 1909, pt.2: U.S. Geological Survey, p.649-653.

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy, translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister: Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Ziegler, V., 1913, The lithia deposits of the Black Hills: Engineering and Mining Journal, v. 96, p. 1053-1056.

Ziegler, V., 1914, The mineral resouroes of the Harney Peak pegmatites: Mining and Scientific Press, v. 108, p. 604-608, 654-656.

Dimensions: 0.6 m x 0.05 m x 0.05 (estimated) m

Volume: 0.0015 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 6.95 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 4.63 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Yokohi Mines, Ichinokawa, Shikoku Island, Iyo Province (Ehime Prefecture), Japan

Today’s Whereabouts: Wada Collection, Central Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Metal Mining Company, Yonu-Shi, Saitana prefecture, Japan

From Rickwood (1981): One 5 cm dimension is inferred. Note, Wada (1904, p.21) stated “… crystals more than 60 cm long were found”. This specimen is in the Wada Collection, Central Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Metal Mining Company, Yonu-Shi, Saitana prefecture, Japan; it was found in Iyo province which has since been renamed Ehime Prefecture; Namu (1970, p.152).

References:

Namu, M., 1970, Introduction to Japanese Minerals, edited by Editorial Committee for “Introduction to Japanese Minerals” Organizing Committce, IMA-IAGOD Meeting ’70: Geological Survey of Japan.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Wada, T., 1904, Minerals of Japan, translated by T. Ogawa: Tokyo.

Dimensions: 0.585 m x 0.057 m x 0.048 m

Volume: 0.0016 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 7.41 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 4.63 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Ichinokawa, Iyo, Shikoku, Japan

Today’s Whereabouts:

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 2) and Dr. M. Hänisch.

From Rickwood (1981): One of a group of crystals (Fig. 2) in the Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Universität Hamburg, Germany; Dr. M. Hänisch (Pers. Comm.
18.1.80). Guillemin (1972, p.5) reported that the length of the largest of these crystals was 65 cm, but the new measurements do not confirm that size. However, Dr. Hänisch reported that the group had twice been repaired and “may be, the length once was about 65 cm”. The next largest crystal is 52 x 2.9 x 3.25 cm.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907..

Dimensions:

Volume:

Mass:

Assumed Density:

Origin: Wuning (Wuling) Antimony Mine, Jiangxi Province, China

Today’s Whereabouts: American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York, USA

References:

American Museum of Natural History (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.225 m x 0.165 m x 0.11 m

Volume: ˂0.0025 m³ (estimated)

Mass: ˂5.14 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.05 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Perticara Mine, Urbino, Italy

Today’s Whereabouts: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy

Photo courtesy: Roberto Appiani and Franco Valoti

Photo courtesy: Roberto Appiani and Franco Valoti/Natural History Museum of Milan

From Rickwood (1981): This crystal is in the collection of the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy. A sketch supplied by Dr. V. de Michele (Pers. Comm. 22.10.79) gives the listed dimensions which are more accurate than those given by Guillemin (1964, p.1; 1972, p.5) and de Michele (1978, p.42). A small patch of calcite adheres to the sulphur so that the true weight is not known.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

GeologyIn.com (accessed Nov. 2020)

Natural History Museum of Milan (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions:

Volume:

Mass: 9.27 kg

Assumed Density:

Origin: Mererani Hill, Simanjiro district, Manyara, Tanzania

Today’s Whereabouts:

References:

CNN (accessed Nov. 2020)

BBC (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.3 m

Volume: 0.00318 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 14.7 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 4.61 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Tsumeb, Namibia

Today’s Whereabouts: Probably specimen #428 of the Kegel Collection (now part of the Roebline Collection), Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA

From Rickwood (1981): This was stated to be a set of “tetrahedral crystals up to 30 cm on an edge”‒Pinch and Wilson (1977, p.33) and a perfectly symnetrical shape has been assumed. This is probably specimen 428 of the Kegel Collection which is now part of the Roebling Collection of the Smithsonian Institution; White (1977, p.51)‒although the latter stated the size as 12″ x 12″ (30 x 30 cm) with a 6” (15 cm) tetrahedron.

References:

Pinch, W. W. and Wilson, W. E., 1977, Tsumeb minerals: a descriptive list: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p. 17-37.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

White, J. W., 1977, Tsumeb. Kegel Collection: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p.51-53.

Dimensions: 0.91 m x 0.91 (estimated) m x 0.91 (est.) m

Volume: 0.754 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 2,677 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.55 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Ribaue-Alto Ligonha district, Mozambique

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Of necessity, a cubic shape was assumed but as this is most improbable for topaz the true mass and volume will be less than the calculated values.
A transparent perfect crystal of topaz from Minas Geraes, Brazil which weighs 300 kg and is 80 x 60 x 60 cm is in the American Museum of Natural History,
New York, U.S.A.; Guillemin (1972, p.l03).

References:

Bandy, M. L., 1951, The Ribaue-Alto Ligonha pegmatite district, Portuguese East Africa: Rocks and Minerals, v. 26, p. 512-521.

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Jahns, R. H., 1953, The genesis of pegmatites. 1. Occurrence and origin of giant crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 38, p. 563-598.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 3.66 m x 0.61 m x 0.61 (estimated) m

Volume: 1.36 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 4,868 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.58 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Palermo Pegmatite, New Hampshaire, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Professor C. Frondel (pers. Comm. l978) stated that this crystal was only partially exposed when he saw it, so the third dimension has had to be assumed.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 2.44 m x 1.83 m x 1.22 m

Volume: 5.45 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 19,511 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 3.58 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Palermo No. 1 Pegmatite, New Hampshire, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Professor P. B. Moore (Pers. Comm. 15.1.79) has written … “The Dan Patch pegmatite (Black Hills, South Dakota) had a triphylite crystal (or nodule) which I saw in 1968 and it was about l0 feet (3.05 m) across. At Palermo No. 1 pegmatite in New Hampshire recent (1975-1977) mining by the owners uncovered a triphylite with sarcopside exsolution lamellae and part of it was trenched out. When I last saw the remains the “crystal” was at least 8 feet wide (2.44 m), 6 feet deep (1.83 m) and 15 feet long (4.57 m), but it wasn’t fully exposed. I took a crude measurement by footstep pacing. The only problem is that it could have been more than one single crystal but I have seen crude crystals of the same species measure 6′ x 8′ x 4′ (1.83 x 2.44 x 1.22 m).”
The largest of these “Crystals” had a volume of 20.4 m³ and a mass in excess of 73,000 kg, but as doubt was implied about it being a single crystal this specimen has been excluded from the tabulation.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 1.03 m x 1.06 m x 0.26 m

Volume:

Mass: 225 kg

Assumed Density:

Origin:

Today’s Whereabouts: Shandong Tianyu Museum of Natural History, Shandong Province, China

This specimen was entered into the Guinness World Records on 07 April 2009 as the largest turqouise.

References:

Guinness World Records (accessed Nov. 2020)

Dimensions: 0.127 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 6.88 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Djebel Mahseur, near Oudjha, Morocco

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Young (1976, p.243) recorded vanadinite crystals at Mibladen, Morocco thus, “I would say the largest crystals never exceed two inches (5.1
cm)….that would be exceptional”.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Yount, V., 1976, M. R. Interview: Mineralogical Record, v. 7, n. 5, p. 241-247.

Dimensions: 0.12 m x 0.04 m (diameter)

Volume: 0.000166 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 1.14 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density:6.88 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Abenab, 28 km north of Grootfontein, Namibia

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #4525 in the museum of the Geological Survey of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

From Rickwood (1981): This is the largest crystal on specimen 4525 in the museum of the Geological Survey of South Africa, Pretoria, R.S.A. It was vanadinite but now is pseudomorphed by descloizite crystals, PbZn(VO₄)(OH); Guillemin (1964, p.1). The smaller dimension has been assumed to be the diameter of a hexagonal cross section
Dr. P. G. Embrey has written (Pers. Comm., 9.2.79) about a similar crystal from this locality which is specimen BM1933, 308 in the British Museum
(Natural History), London, U.K. It is 8 x 4 cm, has a mass of 324 g, and before polishing was coated with descloizite

References:

Guillemin, C., 1964, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 1.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.055 m x 0.055 m x 0.015 m

Volume: ~0.000013 m³ (estimated)

Mass: ~0.030 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.23 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Zwickau, Saxony, Germany

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #27153 in the Bergakademie, Freiberg, Germany

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 12) and Dr. F. Höfmann

From Rickwood (1981): This is specimen 27153 in the Bergakademie, Freiberg, D.D.R.,[now Germany] which is a twinned crystal that weighs 100 g with the matrix. Dr. F. Höfmann (Pers. Comm. 5.3.80) reported the thickness to be 30 mm, so for a single crystal this has been halved. The mass has been estimated assuming that the matrix weighs roughly a third of the total; the volume corresponds to the estimated mass. This crystal is shown in Fig. 12. The density was obtained from Palache et al. (1951, p.1100) who noted “Among the natural occurrences may be mentioned Burgk near Dresden, Saxony, where crystals up to several inches in size occur with calcite in the footwall of a coal seam.”

References:

Palache, C., Berman, H., and Frondel, C., 1951, The system of mineralogy of J. D. Dana and E. S. Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, 7th Edition. Vol. 2. Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates etc.: John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.054 m x 0.039 m x 0.0085 m

Volume: 0.0000074 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 0.0165 kg

Assumed Density: 2.23 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Pchery, Theodor Mine, Klando District, Czechoslovakia

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #6185 in the Prirodovedecke Muzeum, Prague, Czechoslovakia

From Rickwood (1981): This twinned crystal was obtained from coal deposits 25 km west of Prague, and is specimen 6185 in the Prirodovedecke Muzeum, Prague, Czechoslovakia. The twin was reported by Dr. J. Svenek (Pers. Comm. 4.9.79) to weigh 33 g; this and the smallest dimension have been halved to estimate the size of a single crystal.

References:

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.20 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 7.31 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Good Luck Claim, Hill City, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Hess (1909, p.152) described the wolframite to be mostly brilliant black and occasionally to have “the purplish rosiny appearance of hubnerite. Single cleavage blades reach perhaps 8 inches in length.”

References:

Hess, F. L., 1909, Rare metals. Tin, turgsten, and tantalum deposits of South Dakota: USGS Bulletin, v. 380, p. 131-163.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Dimensions: 0.61 m (diameter)

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: 6.815 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Tsumeb, Namibia

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): Key (1977, p.50) wrote “These reached the astounding size of 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter, but they were so thin and fragile that damage was severe: a sample from this occurrence is on display in the American Museum.” Pinch and Wilson (1977, p.34) similarly described “… thin crystals up to 60 cm across intergrown with each other,” as occurring at this locality. However, Sinkankas (1964, p.434) had previously claimed “and in magnificient reticulated clusters, probably the world’s largest crystals, from Glove (Sunrise) Mine, Tyndall district, Santa Cruz County (Fig. 235). Some Glove crystals reach 4″ (10.2 cm) on edge and consist of exceedingly thin tablets of yellowish color, sometimes coated with descloizite.” Wulfenite crystals, with l0 cm edges, from the Glove Mine, Amado, Arizona, U.S.A. comprise specimen 10,000 of the Roebling Collection in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (Guillemin, 1972, p.122),.
Kostov (1968, p.487) cited a range of 6.5-7.0 g/cm³ for the density of wulfenite, but although Mason and Berry (1968, p.378) gave the same range, they stated that the calculated value is 6.815 g/cm³ and lower and higher densities occur due to substitution of Ca for Pb and W for Mo, respectively. This calculated value has been assumed here but note that Palache et al. (1951, p.1083) gave 6.88 g/cm³ as the calculated value.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Key, C. L., 1977, The best of Tsumeb: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p. 48-50.

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy, translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister: Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

Mason, B. and Berry, L. G., 1968, Elements of Mineralogy: W. H. Freeman and Company, New York.

Palache, C., Berman, H., and Frondel, C., 1951, The system of mineralogy of J. D. Dana and E. S. Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, 7th Edition. Vol. 2. Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates etc.: John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

Pinch, W. W. and Wilson, W. E., 1977, Tsumeb minerals: a descriptive list: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p. 17-37.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Sinkankas, J., 1964, Mineralogy for amateurs: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA

Dimensions: 0.083 m x 0.075 m x 0.03 m

Volume: 0.000187 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 1.27 kg

Assumed Density: 6.815 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Tsumeb, Namibia

Today’s Whereabouts: Specimen #40351 in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Photo courtesy: Rickwood (1981, Figure 5) and Dr. J. D. Grice

From Rickwood (1981): This (Fig. 5) is specimen #40351 in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa. The largest crystal is
chipped and the dimensions reported here were supplied by Dr. J. D. Grice of that Museum and are more accurate than those given by Key (1977, p.50).
Wilson (1977, p.81) published a photograph of another large wulfenite crystal from Tsumeb, Namibia, and the part-owner has reported the dimensions to be 7.8-9.1 x 5.9-6.5 x 1.2-2.5 cm (Mrs. M. Zweibel, Pers. Comm., Feb. 79).
Large wulfenite crystals also occur at M’Fouati, Morocco and Guilleman (1972, p.21) noted that some 5-10 cm x 1 cm were in the École Nationale Superieure des Mines, Paris, France.

References:

Guillemin, C., 1972, En visitant les grandes collections minéralogiques mondiales: Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, Paris, p. 115.

Key, C. L., 1977, The best of Tsumeb: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p. 48-50.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Wilson, W., 1977, Folio:Tsumeb!: Mineralogical Record, v. 8, n. 3, p. 55-85.

Dimensions: 10.67 m x 4.57 m x 1.83 m

Volume: 89.23 m³ (estimated)

Mass: 230,213 kg (estimated)

Assumed Density: 2.58 g/cm³ (estimated)

Origin: Hugo Mine, Keystone, South Dakota, USA

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): As the composition of this perthite is Ab₂₇ (Norton et al., 1962, p.65) the density is approximately 2.58 g/cm³ (Kostov, 1968, Fig. 386). This crystal was carefully measured by Drs. J. J. Norton and L. R. Page for it occurred on a corner of a quarry wall and all three dimensions could be determined. Dr. Norton wrote (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) that prior to measurement “… a sizeable part of this crystal had already been removed by mining …”. Subsequently, it was completely mined out and it was never photographed.
Norton et al. (1962, p.64,65) described perthite, (K,Na)AlSi₃O₈, in Zone 3a of the Hugo Pegmatite, Keystone, South Dakota, U.S.A. thus: “Largest crystal observed was 35 by 15 by 6 foot (10.67 x 4.57 x 1.83 m), but much larger crystals were exposed in the early years of mining (G. M. Schwartz, oral communication, 1948).” “The largest crystal observed contained
an estimated 250 tons of perthite.”, (226,796 kg).
Dr. Norton wrote (Pers. Comm. 18.9.79) that G. M. Schwartz, an eminent geologist, had said to him “… that he had in the 1920’s seen the cleavage of a single perthite crystal over the whole face then being mined. This crystal would have been several times as large as the one I reported.”
The Bikita and Nolan Mines, Zimbabwe, are cut into a pegmatite body which “… contains some of the largest crystals I have ever seen‒perthite crystals
more than 40 feet (12.19 m) long”; Dr. L. R. Page (Pers. Comm., 6.6.80). Surprisingly, however, Wilson and Martin (1964) do not mention these.

References:

Kostov, I., 1968, Mineralogy, translated by P. G. Embrey and J. Phemister: Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

Norton, J. J., Page, L. R. and Brobst, D. A., 1962, Geology of the Hugo Pegmatite, Keystone, South Dakota: USGS Professional Paper, v. 297-B, p. 49-127.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.

Wilson, J. F. and Martin, H. J., 1964, The geology of the country around Fort Victoria and the Bikita Tinfield. Abhandlungen der Southern Rhodesia Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 58.

Dimensions: >10 m

Volume: unknown

Mass: unknown

Assumed Density: unknown

Origin: Kure, south of Mass, Norway

Today’s Whereabouts:

From Rickwood (1981): These reports have been kept because the above perthite is a mineral intergrowth and could be disputed as a single crystal.

References:

Brögger, W. C., 1890, Die Mineralien der Syenitpegmatitgänge der Sudnorwegischen Augit und Nephelinsyenite: Zeitschrift fur Krystallographie und Mineralogie, v. 16, p. 215-235.

Brögger, W. C., 1894, On the formation of pegmatite veins, translated by Evans, N. N.: Canadian Record of Science, v. 6,p. 34-46, 61-71.

Kemp, J., 1924, The pegmatites: Economic Geology, v. 19, p. 697-723.

Rickwood, P. C., 1981, The largest crystals: American Mineralogist, v. 66, p. 885-907.