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Albite var. Anorthoclase in Ramsden silver box from Antarctica, from the British Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-191...
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Description
Rare Mineral Artifact from the Famous 1910 Terra Nova Expedition, a Harrowing Race to be the First to Reach the South Pole
Albite var. Anorthoclase in Ramsden silver box from Antarctica,
from the British Terra Nova Expedition of
1910-1913. Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Ross Archipelago,
Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica. This remarkable
mineral specimen of Albite var. Anorthoclase from Mount Erebus in
Antarctica is a wonder of both geology, and the incredibly historic
expedition through which this specimen traveled so far. The
Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-1913, named for the supply
ship used, was led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott with the goal of
being the first expedition to ever reach the geographic South Pole.
Scott's party arrived at the South Pole on January 17th, 1912, only
34 days after a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen reached the
South Pole first. This expedition was fraught with misfortune,
including the loss of Captain Scott himself during the last eleven
miles of the five-man polar party's return from the South Pole.While the Terra Nova expedition failed to meet their primary objective, they led several successful geological explorations in the early years of the expedition, particularly in the coast of the McMurdo Sound, in which Ross Island (named for the British Explorer Sir James Ross, who discovered the island in 1840) is located. Sailing from New Zealand, Terra Nova arrived at Ross Island in 1910, when this Anorthoclase specimen was most likely collected, by either Frank Debenham or Raymond E. Priestley, the two staff geologists on the crew of Terra Nova.
Ross Island was formed by four volcanos, the second-highest being Mount Erebus at 12,448 feet, named for the H.M.S. Erebus, flagship of the doomed Arctic "Franklin's lost expedition" of 1845. It was at the rim of Mount Erebus where this specimen was collected. Being from a volcanic locality, this specimen features a variety of Albite called Anorthoclase, which crystallizes in high temperature veins such as those created in the volcano, 1.3 million years ago. The specimen is relatively well-formed, with individual Anorthoclase crystals visible on both sides of the matrix, which likely consists of massive non-crystallize Anorthoclase. A few of the crystals exhibit the triclinic crystal structure that is characteristic of the species. The color is a dark slate-grey, and the luster on some areas is excellent for the locality.
This specimen is encased in a glazed silver case box with two glass windows, with the inscription "CAPE EVANS B.A.E. 1910," as well as an inscription reading "RN&C," a hallmark standing for "Ramsden & Carr." The "Cape Evans" inscription refers to the cape on Ross Island in which Mount Erebus is located. The final stamp in the silver, three squares containing a roaring lion, a lion's head, and the letter "S," is the signature of Omar Ramsden, a Sheffield silversmith active in the early 1900s, who crafted the silver box that encases this specimen. He set up a shop with Alwyn Carr in 1898, and their partnership became among the most prolific of the twentieth century.
The wood inside of the silver box has been lightly carved to accommodate the specimen, and to fix it in-place. There are a few loose crumbs of matrix within this box. Together, the specimen and the box weigh 807 g/28.4 ounces.
Auction Info
2022 December 1 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6267 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
1st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 32
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