Celestine on Calcite (New Find - 2023)

Item Description

Here we have a fairly new specimen from a discovery in mid 2023 which produced richly colored blue Celestine from the Badghis Province of Afghanistan. These specimens were found in an area which lies far to the west of the more traditional specimen-producing provinces like Kunar, Nuristan, Laghman and Badakhshan. Celestine is certainly not a mineral that people think of when it comes to Afghani minerals, and these specimens feature excellent crystals with a stronger than average color for the species, which have formed atop beautiful golden-yellow Calcite for a stark contrast of color. This piece features a few notably sharp, well-formed, lustrous, gemmy, strong "steel" blue colored prismatic crystals of Celestine measuring up to 3.7 cm, sitting on tiny crystallized light yellow Calcite matrix. The Celestines are in good condition, though there are some slight imperfections, so it's not completely pristine. A very attractive and certainly desirable specimen for any fan of minerals from Afghanistan or worldwide Celestines. I doubt many of you have one of these in your collection, so don't miss out, as we don't know how many more there will be going forward.