Kämmererite / Chromian Clinochlore
Kämmererite (also spelled Kaemmererite) is a chromium-bearing variety of Clinochlore with bright purple to a deep crimson red color. Shaping of Kämmererite is very difficult because the crystals are usually thin, micaceous with a perfect cleavage. This means that it is extraordinarily difficult to facet, which severely limits the availability of cut gems. It would have to be handled with great care to avoid cleaving. A few clean, well-cut gems do exist, but they are extremely rare. Kammererite is also known as Chromian Clinochlore.
Clinochlore is a member of a large group of minerals called chlorites. Most chlorites have a green color due to the presence of iron and magnesium. Kammererite has small amounts of chromium present that produce the crimson red crystals of kammererite. Chromium is a very strong coloring agent and is responsible for vibrant colors in many different minerals. The lavender and the more common crimson red of kammererite are very brilliant colors.
Kammererite was named in 1841 by Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld in honor of August Alexander Kämmerer (1789 – 1858) who was the Ober-Bergmeister, chemist in the Mining Department of Russia. He was the author of several geological and pharmaceutical works. He was the mining director at St. Petersburg.
Our specimens are from the Kop Krom mine, Kop Daglari, Erzurum Province, Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey. Kop Daglari has produced the best examples in the world of this rare mineral. The mine closed in 1991, and no other source has been found that has anywhere near the quality as the Kop Krom Mine.
Item # 1KAM0716S0096
Kaemmererite Crystals on Matrix from Turkey
Here's an excellent Old Stock display specimen of Kammererite in a 2.6 x 2.6 x 2.3" (67 x 67 x 59mm) display case. This specimen was procured from a mineral dealer in Sapphire Valley, NC. It is from a 1970's collection. This is a rare specimen of an excellent crimson red Kammererite from the Kop Krom mine, Kop Daglari, Erzurum Province, Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey. This specimen is glued to the styrofoam (typical of the old stock collections) and the styrofoam is glued into the display case. The weight listed includes the display cube as well as the specimen.
This specimen weighs 2.86 oz or 0.179 lbs (81.5g) and measures 1.95 x 1.26 x 0.76 inches (49.7 x 32.2 x 19.5mm)
Item # 2KAM0716S0094
Kaemmererite Crystals on Matrix from Turkey
Here's an excellent Old Stock display specimen of Kammererite in matrix. This specimen was procured from a mineral dealer in Sapphire Valley, NC. It is from a 1970's collection. This is a rare specimen of an excellent crimson red Kammererite from the Kop Krom mine, Kop Daglari, Erzurum Province, Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey.
This specimen weighs 4.72 oz or 0.295 lbs (134g) and measures 2.61 x 2.1 x 1.27 inches (66.4 x 53.6 x 32mm)