Beryl (var: Aquamarine) (large crystal) (ex Allen Heyl Collection)

Item Description

An old time Aquamarine from an unknown locality in Connecticut (possibly the Strickland Quarry, or the area around Portland, or Haddam Neck). Some of these crystals dates back to the 1840's and are among the more noteworthy Beryls from New England. This piece is rather thick, stout, saturated blue color Aquamarine crystal featuring a few sharp hexagonal prism faces. The piece shows good internal translucency when backlit. Minor amounts of black Schorl, Smoky Quartz and Muscovite are attached here and there. The base of the crystal is contacted, and while the top portion was broken at one point, it has since partially re-crystallized ("re-healed"). You rarely see pieces of this size from any locality in Connecticut. A cool old specimen for any collector of pegmatite minerals, gem crystals or minerals from New England. From the collection of Allen Heyl, a geologist from Colorado, and the namesake for the phosphate Aheylite. Specimen weight is 330.05 grams.