Halite (fluorescent)

Item Description

Superb, cabinet-sized Halite specimen from the well-known Merkers Mine in Germany, from the impressive and well known German suite of the Hefendehl collection. The Halite crystals in this cluster are gemmy, with a satin luster that gives the crystals good visual definition. The largest of the Halites is a significant 6.4 cm on edge. The crystals are in excellent condition, save for a few very small edge dings and one bruised corner. Considering how soft Halite is, that is remarkably little wear. The fluorescence is an AMAZING orange. It is glorious, as if looking at neon glass, and no photo can possibly do justice to just how stunning the fluorescence really is in person. Now a tourist mine, a crystal grotto was discovered in 1980 that contained phenomenal Halites up to one meter in size! This resulted in the mine being designated a natural geoscientific monument (geotope) worthy of protection. As it should be. From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl, 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. This is a fine quality, rarely preserved, and a very significant piece for the location for any collection. It is also just a really good halite crystal on its own merit!