Amethyst ("reverse" scepters) (ex Gary Weaver Collection)

Item Description

The area around Silverton, Colorado is well-known for its ore deposits. The most famous mine in the district is the Sunnyside Mine, but to the east of Silverton lies Cunningham Gulch, where the ghost town of Howardsville can be found. In this Gulch you have some famous mines such as the Old Hundred, the Highland Mary and the Keystone. Several years ago, there was a discovery of some attractive and fine quality Amethyst specimens at the old Keystone Mill Site. These pieces were dug by hand, and later sold by dealers such as Robert Stouffer. This is one of the better examples that I've seen of the material. It features many sharp, gemmy, lustrous, soft purple colored Amethyst crystals measuring up to 1.3 cm long which are sitting on a layer of white Quartz that has formed as "cast" after preexisting Fluorite or Calcite. The most interesting aspect of these Amethyst crystals is that they show beautiful tapered "reverse" scepter terminations, which is certainly rare for the San Juan Mountains and Colorado in general. Most of the crystals are undamaged on the piece, but there are a few imperfections here and there. A great specimen to add to any suite of Colorado minerals or a worldwide Quartz collection. From the collection of Gary Weaver of Prescott, Arizona (1944-2019). Gary was an electrical engineer who worked for many years for Hughes Aircraft in California. You can read Gary's obituary here https://www.dcourier.com/news/2019/apr/27/obituary-gary-richard-weaver/