Corundum (var: Ruby) on marble

Item Description

Ruby is a mineral that is known by nearly every person in the world, but, it is incredibly difficult to find specimens featuring fine quality crystals on matrix. As a matter of fact, most Corundum crystals are found as loose singles off matrix. The Rubies from Jagdalak, Afghanistan are among some of the most well known and superbly crystallized examples of Ruby ever found. This specimen features a pair of sharp, very well formed, lustrous, strong pinkish-red color prismatic crystals with wonderful gemminess measuring up to 2.6 cm long sitting beautifully on marble matrix with brown Phlogopite Mica. I would like to add that not only are the crystals on this specimen are attractive and good quality, but they are also UN-REPAIRED, which makes it even more desirable, as many of these piece features crystals that are glued back on the matrix. Many Ruby crystals you will see from around the world are often slightly translucent, or genuinely opaque, but some of these crystals glow with color when backlit. The crystals are in fine shape, but the larger one is contacted on the back. A fine Ruby specimen from a locality that is not producing nearly as many good pieces as it did 15 years ago. Valued at $1,400 in the inventory. For reference, if this piece were from Mogok, Myanmar, I can say with certainty that the value would be higher, though it's gemmy, so it may not have survived the mines and might have been faceted into a gemstone. It's important to keep this in mind when one is searching for a display quality matrix Ruby specimen.