Aquamarine (doubly-terminated) (rare matrix specimen) (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

Brazil has produced some of the finest quality crystals of Aquamarine in the world, but the vast majority of those crystals are loose singles, with no matrix. As a matter of fact, before material started showing up from Pakistan and Namibia, it was fairly difficult to get your hands of a good matrix Aquamarine specimen from any world locality. This beautiful and aesthetic miniature features a predominant doubly-terminated Aquamarine crystal measuring 4.2 cm long associated with a few smaller secondary Aquas on cream colored Microcline matrix. The clarity ranges from virtually water clear to translucent in the center of the main crystal, and the color is a gentle pastel blue (with a slight greenish overtone) to nearly colorless at the tips.  The slight greenish hue is key here, as it is often seen in Brazilian material, and virtually unseen in the more powder blue crystals from Pakistan.  The combination of graceful etching patterns on the smooth, well-formed, hexagonal faces along with the defined, highly lustrous, un-etched faces makes for a wonderful overall effect. No damage that I can find with the naked eye, and the piece is very three-dimensional and showy. Each termination on the main Aqua is modified showing first and second order pyramidal faces along with a tapered growth, so it's not just a boring six-sided crystal. A very attractive and hard to find matrix specimen of this classic old material from the Mimoso do Sul Mine. Ex Richard A. Kosnar collection, well-known mineral dealer and the namesake for the phosphate species, Kosnarite. The piece dates back to the early 1970s, and has been in the Kosnar family collection for nearly 50 years. Rich loved this particular specimen due to the fact that he personally obtained it in Brazil and always remarked at its importance due to the fact that matrix Aquamarines were so difficult to find back then.    A Valued today at $1,400 in the inventory.