Brookite (large crystal) on Quartz (ex Kurt Hefendehl Collection)

Item Description

Brookite is a polymorph of titanium dioxide, along with Anatase and Rutile (plus a few more ultra-rare species), but when it comes to good matrix display specimens, there aren't a lot of localities (especially active localities) where fine specimens have been found. Historically, you'll see some excellent examples of Brookite from the Italian Alps, but the crystals are often small. Starting in the early 2000s, there was a discovery of some truly impressive "Alpine-type" Brookites in the Baluchistan Province of Pakistan. These pieces are remarkably similar to the TRUE ALPINE Brookite specimens from Europe as they are equally sharp, lustrous, gemmy and filled with fiery red color. Here we have a fantastic small cabinet specimen featuring a notably large, very sharp, lustrous, thin tabular crystals of Brookite with a dark reddish-brown color associated with gemmy, colorless Quartz prisms sitting beautifully on matrix. A great overall piece that presents the species in a size and quality that is hard to find in nature. Priced in the inventory at $3,000. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl, a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the next two to three years through our various platforms.