Fluorapophyllite-(K) and Stilbite-(Ca) Chalcedony Stalactite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

Dozens of razor-sharp, highly lustrous, gemmy, colorless Fluorapophyllite-(K) crystals are associated with a few pale peach colored "blades" of Stilbite-(Ca) measuring up to 2.3 cm sitting atop a stalactite of Chalcedony. The bluish color that you're seeing is actually coming from the Chalcedony stalactite at the center of the specimen, and is not part of the color of the Apophyllites. The only point of attachment is actually at the end of the specimen, where you can see a couple tiny radial "dots" of the Chalcedony stalactite which was detached from where it grew at the pocket wall. A few small areas of rich brick-red inclusions of an unknown mineral (it must just be iron oxide) can be seen for a nice spot of color on the piece. A wonderful example of this classic material from this famous basalt flow in India. Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/smalestephen/ ) or on Wikipedia.