Copenhagen, Denmark / copen665-126-679L cryolite from greenland.JPG

Copenhagen, Denmark/copen665

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This is a historical piece of cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride, Na₃AlF₆ from Greenland (Groenland)). It is the oldest cryolite specimen in the museum, dating from 1795. The label describes it as "Sauerspath" ("Acid spar"). Cryolite was the mineral that eventually furnished the way for commercial production of aluminum, the method discovered by Hall {Link: Oberlin520} and Héroult (France). {LINK: Héroult in France, Paris8-040}.