Beryl var. Aquamarine, with Orthoclase

Item Description

Substantial and robust, this very fine Aquamarine/Orthoclase combination piece is from the heralded Erongo Mountains of Namibia. Standing an impressive 8 cm tall, and an astounding 3.3 x 4.4 cm thick, this Aqua is HUGE by Erongo standards. The prism faces have good luster, while the main, slightly-etched termination is glassy and sharp. The upper 1.6 cm of the crystal is gemmy and crazed, so looking into termination from the side, or down from the end, is like looking into boiling blue water. The remainder of the Aqua, a translucent-to-gemmy powdery-blue, provides a lovely contrast to the termination and adds much character to the piece. Partly complete at the bottom, this great Aqua can legitimately be considered partially doubly-terminated. The 4.5 cm, nicely formed and almost complete, Orthoclase crystal attached to the side brings a great deal in terms of mineral and visual interest, and it has, in parts, a deep, reddish-orange fluorescence. This is a notable, classic combination from Erongo, with the sheer size and good quality give this small-cabinet specimen a distinguished aesthetic.