Epidote (gemmy crystal)

Item Description

Some of the finest examples of crystallized Epidote to come out of any locality in the world are the superb crystals from Alpine localities in Europe, specifically the Knappenwand in Austria. These famous pieces were found in the 1800s, and were the standard for the species for decades. Then in the early 1990s, we started to see many superb quality Epidote specimens coming out of the "Alpine-type" deposits in the high Pakistani mountains around Shigar. These amazing, beautiful and excellent quality specimens rivaled the finest crystals from the world-famous true Alpine localities. What really set the Pakistani specimens apart was not just the size, luster and sharpness, but they were rather gemmy(!) even in thicker crystals, which is not commonly seen from European examples. In recent years, we've noticed that it has become increasingly difficult to find top Epidotes from this locality, as my friends in Pakistan tell me that little is being found. This gorgeous display specimen hosts a superb, sharp, very lustrous, gemmy prismatic crystal, with a smaller accenting Epidotes at the base, and no matrix. Despite the thickness, the crystal does pass light, and it's quite gemmy internally. Additionally, because Epidote is pleochroic, the crystals shows a deep golden-amber hue on direction, but when it's rotated 90 degrees, you can see distinctive green and yellow flashes as well. Technically, the crystal is doubly-terminated, as the base has re-crystallized ("re-healed") where it detached from the pocket wall, as you can clearly see tiny crystallization underneath. You just don't see pieces like this on the market now, and if you consider that most Epidote crystals around the world are "black" and opaque, this piece is in the higher echelon in terms of quality for the species.
Valued $1,800.
From the "Alpine-type" collection of Richard ("Rich") Andrew Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado, who was the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite. Rich loved European Alpine minerals, and once the specimens from Pakistan hit the market, he started building a suite of them as they were just as good if not better than their European counterparts.