You are bidding on a large, and very unusual sample of diaoyudaoite from a find with a very unusual history. This is one of the largest pieces from the find, and made its way from Josef Vajdak to the David Burgess collection. Originally this material was found on a construction site in Elizabeth, NJ and after much research its origin was traced back to a dredging operation in Newark Bay. All occurences of the mineral are thought to be as a by-product of smelting or chromium refining and this occurence also fits this theory. The sample is quite beautiful, consisting of colorless plates of diaoyudaoite intergrown with bright blue plates of the same mineral (it is unknown what causes the blue color). The specimen fluoresces a brilliant red as well. Even though this is an anthropogenic species, this was the most important, and interesting occurence of the mineral and has historical significance. The story of this find from Josef Vajdak (mindat):

"This extremely unusual find resulted from a local collector picking up a glistening white chunk of apparent calcite cleavage masses at the construction site of a shopping mall, Port Elizabeth, Union Co., New Jersey. Upon analysis, the material was found to be [equivalent to] Diaoyudaoite. Research by the finder indicated that the material was dredged up from the Port Elizabeth channel deepening project, Elizabeth, Union Co., NJ; however, further investigation by Chet Lemanski with knowledgeable authorities connected with the project revealed that the material used for the fill at the shopping center was actually dredged from the Newark Bay-Port Newark channel area, Newark, Essex Co. A check at the Port Elizabeth shopping mall, now complete, revealed that all fill material was completely covered over. Dredge spoils from the Port Elizabeth channel deepening project were pumped ashore at another shopping mall & golf course at Bayonne, NJ. A field trip to that site was unsuccessful in locating any further diaoyudaoite whatsoever, only Manhattan schist (muscovite)."