Gyrolite, Okenite and Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) (old classic) Currier Coll.

Item Description

Outstanding and aesthetic old-time small cabinet combination from the extinct Kandivili (Malad) Quarry near Mumbai. Bone-white bladed Gyrolite balls, to 2.5 cm, soft-to-the-touch snow-white puffballs of Okenite needles, to 3.7 cm, and glassy, translucent, bi-colored tetragonal Hydroxylapophyllite crystals, to 1.7 cm, are artistically set on either end of the sculptural curved mounded matrix, that hosts numerous small Gyrolite balls and a few Apophyllites. The quarries in the area were closed due to population growth. Ex Rock Currier Collection No. 2121 and acquired in 1975. The piece is illustrated in the MINDAT Malad Quarry Gyrolite Photo Gallery with a photo by Rock. Rock (1940-2015) is one of the most prominent mineral dealers and well-known author and lecturer of this era. His worldwide exploits obtaining mineral specimens are legendary. See: https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/currierrock/ for more of his fascinating story. Combination specimens of this rare old-time exceptional quality and aesthetics are only available from old collections such as Rock's, who imported many (most?!) pieces from the Mumbai (Bombay) quarries. That he kept this as it was coming out in the heyday of the 1970s and 1980s, says a lot. SUPERB and unusual Indian specimen!