Epidote (large thick crystal)

Item Description

For a few decades Pakistan produced some of the finest quality specimens of Epidote ever found. The impressive size, quality, aesthetic and color/gemminess seen in a large percentage f crystals puts them in the top ranks for the species from anywhere. Although we saw many good quality specimens of this material on the market years ago, it has become increasingly rare to find excellent specimens such as this from Tormiq. The Pakistani specimens are seemingly identical to the classic Alpine specimens from Europe, but and argument can be made that in certain instances, they have surpassed their European counterparts with regard to their overall quality, size and gemminess. This beautiful large cabinet sized display specimen is a very showy, multi-terminated, rather thick, sharp, lustrous crystal group with a very dark greenish-black color on the surface. Epidote is a pleochroic species, which means that the color of the crystals will change when they are rotated on a different axis, and although this crystal is mostly opaque, it does pass some light, and you can see a shift in the color when you rotate the piece with strong backlighting. The piece is in good condition overall, and the termination is actually in good shape, despite some interrupted growth, there really isn't any true damage. There is a sheared edge on one side, and the base of the crystal is broken where it was detached from the pocket wall, but it's still largely in good shape and truly looks better in person. You just don't see 6-INCH Epidote crystals like this from anywhere, especially with a bit of color and translucency. Specimen weight is 280.9 grams. Valued at $3,000 retail.