Benitoite, Neptunite & Natrolite (Trimingham Coll.)

Item Description

Indigo-blue benitoite crystals and splendent jet-black neptunite prisms are richly and attractively scattered on the serpentine plate and nicely accented with a bit of snow-white natrolite on this impressive and excellent large piece from the famous Dallas Gem Mine. Some of the textbook lustrous benitoites, to 1.8 cm, are quite gemmy, while other are translucent. The neptunites reach 2.0 cm. A few tiny orange joaquinites are also noted. Scattered bruising, contacting and broken crystals are noted (a few of the benitoites are broken, but many are not...and are of excellent quality with a bit of gem value as well), but this remains a striking, excellent and large classic example of the combination species and famous extinct locale. Ex Bob Trimingham Collection and collected prior to 1955, according to his label. valued $1500 for size, showiness, and the great color of the intact benitoites. There is some residual gemstone value to the benitoites, as well, which we guess is going to yyield a few nice small cut stones if you were to chip them out