Epidote (Superb large "Faden" Group) (ex Rich Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

Going back to the 1990s, Pakistan started producing some of the finest quality specimens of Epidote ever found. The size, quality, aesthetic and color/gemminess of these 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 and gemminess. This beautiful cabinet sized display specimen is a very showy, multi-terminated, sharp, highly lustrous "Faden" crystal group featuring pronounced "sword"-shaped crystals in a fantastic stepped arrangement. The term "Faden" comes from the German word for "string" and with some backlighting, you can see an intern "string" running across the center of the specimen. Along with the superior size, form and quality, the piece shows good color when backlit! The color ranges from a yellow-green to a golden hue. Epidote is a pleochroic species, which means that the color of the crystals will change when they are rotated on a different axis, and you can see a shift in the color on this piece when you rotate it in the light (best seen in sunlight). The piece is in very good condition overall, though a few small imperfections can be seen at the base of the piece where it is contacted after being removed from the pocket wall. The specimen displays wonderfully from either side as well. Valued at $3,500 retail. This piece is from the collection of the well-known mineral dealer Richard Kosnar (1946-2007) from Colorado, who was a serious collector of Alpine and "Alpine-Type" minerals from around the world. He was especially fond of Epidote from the European Alpine clefts and the nearly identical deposits in Pakistan.