Epidote (''Pushkinite'')

Item Description

Katsna Yama is an historic locality in the Ural Mountains of Russia, famous for its wonderful Epidote crystals, which are quite similar to the world-class pieces from the Knappenwand in the Austrian Alps. The Epidotes from Katsna Yama are actually referred to locally as "Pushkinite", after the Russian scientist Apollos Musin-Pushkin, and for a time this was actually a valid species. This specimen is a fine quality and showy display piece featuring excellent, very sharp, highly lustrous, prismatic crystals measuring up to 2.3 cm, aesthetically flaring off matrix. The crystals are rather dark, even when backlit, but there are TINY areas on the edges which show vivid hues of rich golden, orange, brown and even GREEN if you hold the piece as the correct angle in the light. A bit of shimmering blue-green "Byssolite" can be seen on the matrix, creating that classic combo that you see in Alpine and "Alpine-type" Epidote crystals. There are a couple contacted areas, so not all of the Epidotes are pristine, but most of them are in very good condition. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#397 Ru), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the coming months and years through our various platforms.