DT Afghanite on Marble (both fluorescent) Burgess Coll.

Item Description

A 5.1 cm sharp afghanite is jauntily set atop the blocky marble matrix on this fine small cabinet example from famous Sar-e-Sang, the Type Locality. The doubly terminated trigonal crystal has rich sapphire-blue color, typically tapered terminations and exceptionally, moderate translucence. This rare complex aluminosilicate is one of the more obscure members of the Cancrinite Group. The matrix is sprinkled on both sides with sparkly tiny golden pyrites and phlogopite mica is scattered about. Part of the afghanite is contacted on the back side, but there is very little, if any, damage. The afghanite fluoresces peach under both LW UV and the marble and phlogopite fluoresces red and yellow under SW UV light. Ex David Burgess Collection, for whom Burgessite is named. A fine and classic large afghanite from the Type Locality.