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This is an excellent smaller example of tugtupite with a small crystal vug containing micro tugtupite crystals. Tugtupite crystals were almost unheard of prior to our discovery of this deposit. This piece has dozens of these micro-crystals. Rarest of the rare...
Until 2001, tugtupite was really only known from the tugtupite mines on Kvanefjeld. There were reports of other varieties and locales, but none were ever made available to collectors. Crystals were unheard of. In 2002 we made a major discovery of tugtupite on the eastern part of the Taseq Slope. We found veins of tugtupite in an analcime and/or lujavrite matrix. A major characteristic of the tugtupite found in this area is the presence of tugtupite crystals. Small vugs occur in the analcime matrix and occasionally small tug crystals are found. Now they have only been documented in these pieces from Greenland, and even then, very rarely. Keep in mind, tugtupite is really found nowhere else in the world, in spite of reports from MSH Canada and Kola Russia, none ever make it to market.
Of course, the tugtupite fluoresces a bright cherry red. Under LW, the color of the tugtupite shifts to the typical salmon color.
The Garpenberg mine is located in Bergslagen, a very old mining area in the southern part of Sweden.
The mine is very active today and is one of Europe's most progressive underground mining operations. Collecting is not possible, and the few specimens that reach collector's hands are highly prized. The mineralogy is quite similar to that of Franklin NJ.
