Cavansite with Calcite on Okenite

Item Description

Cavansite is loved by collectors and dealers because it has one of the most enchanting colors in the mineral kingdom. Combine that with the fact that the only specimens of interest to most collectors are found in one place in the world. Cavansite was first discovered in Oregon, and was fairly unknown to most collectors due to the fact that most of the crystals are quite small and somewhat nondescript. Luckily not too long after their initial discovery, the Wagholi Quarry in India started producing the world's finest specimens of this now well-known species. Sure, there might be a fair number of them on the market now, but you won't see them forever, and rumors keep swirling as to whether Wagholi is completely flooded / inaccessible or if the quarry is actually being filled in to make room for the ever growing needs for housing around Pune. This attractive miniature specimen features a gorgeous "spray"-like group of intense blue colored bladed crystals of Cavansite which are associated with good sized, gemmy, soft golden colored rhombs of Calcite sitting on acicular snow-white Mordenite on basalt matrix. The vast majority of Cavansites from this locality are not associated with Calcite like this piece, and the rhombs are typically only a few mm. The largest Calcite on this specimen measures a full 1.1 cm(!) and the individual blades of Cavansite measure an impressive 2.0 cm long. The piece is not 100% damage free, as it is contacted along the top edge where it was removed from the pocket wall. If the piece were perfect, I could see is retailing for as much as $7,500 considering the superb size, quality, color and overall aesthetics of the Cavansite and Calcite crystals. With that said, it's still a great bargain for the $999 starting price and if you're a fan of Cavansite or minerals from the Deccan Trap, it's an impressive miniature that would make a nice addition to your collection.