Calcite with Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) and Gyrolite (collected 1975)

Item Description

An old-time Indian specimen from the Mumbai District dating back to 1975, when pieces first starting pouring out of the Deccan Trap. Rock Currier visited India in the early days of production (as you can see in this photo on mindat - https://www.mindat.org/photo-422486.html). This specimen hosts blocky, somewhat translucent, white crystals of Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) (a rarer species of Apophyllite than Fluorapophyllite-(K) which is more commonly seen from India), associated with rather gemmy, colorless crystals of Calcite measuring up to 3.6 cm, and highlighted by little spherical groups of pastel olive colored Gyrolite. The piece is fairly three-dimensional, and it's hard to capture the quality in photos / video, but it's fun to view in person. From the collection of the beloved mineral dealer and collector Rock H. Currier (1940-2015) who was the long-time owner of Jewel Tunnel Imports (named after the large open vugs in basalt in India which were often filled with crystals). Collection #RHC2176. Rock's label states, "These are the kind of specimens that will disappear quickly because they were cheap when they were being produced but easily become dirty and will be thrown out and will some day be quite rare." If you think about it, you really don't see many of these pieces on the market anymore, so Rock seems to have been correct with his prediction. Rock travelled the world in search of mineral specimens, and built and impressive collection over his lifetime. He was one of the more colorful and unforgettable figures in the mineral world. You can read more about Rock at the following links: (https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/currierrock/) (https://www.mindat.org/user-2982.html) (https://www.rockcurrier.com/).