Aquamarine on Microcline with Albite

Item Description

A majestic and impressive full-cabinet sized specimen from one of the most legendary mineral producing regions in the world. Years ago it was incredibly difficult to get your hands on a matrix Aquamarine specimen. Most of the old crystals from Russia were singles off matrix, and nearly everything found in Brazil for the last 70+ years is a single crystal. All of that changed when serious specimen mining took place in Pakistan. We saw some of the most spectacular matrix examples of Aquamarine in the world make their way to the market, which in many respects are still the standard for this blue variety of Beryl. This piece features a gorgeous 6.2 cm, sharp, highly lustrous, GEM QUALITY, beautiful icy blue color hexagonal prism flaring off a big, blocky, porcelain-esque white Microcline crystal measuring 7.0 cm at its longest dimension with associated curved bladed white Albite crystals plus minor bronzy-silver colored Muscovite and very slightly smoky colored Quartz. The reverse side of the piece actually shows a few small incomplete fiery red color Spessartine Garnet fragments embedded in the Feldspar. The upper 75% of the Aqua crystal is WATER CLEAR and transitions into a slightly "misty" translucency at the base. The crystal itself is virtually damage free, but it must be noted there is a small imperfection where the prism meets one of the frosted pyramidal modifying faces of the termination. This spot appears to be a small bit of damage, but it could also be a scar from where another mineral once grew (i.e., a small Spessartine Garnet crystal). Additionally, there is a horizontal line that runs across the Aqua crystal near the base. This is NOT a repair line, but rather a slight irregular growth and "re-healing" that took place most likely during some tectonic activity where the crystal shifted in the pocket during growth and continued on growing. It's akin to breaking a bone in your body and then seeing the slightly irregular line in an x-ray after it heals. Overall the piece is incredibly dramatic, aesthetic, showy and eye-catching display specimen from this most famous gem crystal producing region in the high mountains of the Shigar Valley. This piece was priced at $7,500 in our inventory and comes with a FREE custom lucite base for easy display.