Ajoite in Quartz (competitive quality TN)

Item Description

Messina is home to a famous, instantly recognizable occurrence of unique and beautiful Quartz specimens because of the amazing and unique color and patterns associated with inclusions of rare copper species here - a phenomenon found only a few times in history. These Quartz crystals are included with bright blue Ajoite, a very uncommon copper-containing silicate. Specimens can vary, but this marvelous, large thumbnail specimen (or a small miniature if true vertical) has a core zone with an incredibly rich saturation of the minute Ajoite inclusions that shows as a phantom of a quartz within. Such ajoite phantoms are extraordinarily rare in nature! And, it is a sharp phantom with strong color, as well! This is a mineral very rare from other localities and seldom this concentrated, enough to make a phantom effect. This phantom stands out sharply, and creates a wonderful aesthetic that is hard to beat. The crystal is even DOUBLY-TERMINATED - a floater without damage! There were several small finds around the 1980's, and as you can imagine, quality Ajoite-in-Quartz specimens are seldom available, and highly sought-after. Lastly, it is not polished, as are most of them over time. This is from the famous 1980s finds, and is a stunning, important, beautiful thumbnail specimen of competitive level of play. Impossible to value, as too many people we know would want it. Dr. Pohl LOVED thumbnails! This was saved for her and sold her by her frequent visitor, and prized South African source, Clive Queit, at the time they came out.