Ilvaite with Calcite and Pyrite

Item Description

An unusual specimen from Dalnegorsk featuring a 5.6 cm prismatic crystal of Ilvaite that has clearly been altered or pseudomorphed, by an unknown species. When viewed under magnification, there is a slightly porous appearance on the surface of the crystals, and I feel like the Ilvaite might have been partially replaced by Quartz, but it's hard to say. The crystal is aesthetically flaring out of a matrix composed of soft pink, translucent, rhombic crystals of Calcite which are overgrowing a previous generation of Calcite with a dusting of little sparkling metallic golden Pyrite. The Calcites show a nice pinkish-orange fluorescence under long wave UV light. The piece sits beautifully on its own, without a base or clay, and displays quite well, though it does have a saw mark on the underside. A most unusual specimen, I can't recall seeing an Ilvaite quite like this from Dalnegorsk, and the Calcite association is also quite uncommon for this material. This is a oddball / esoteric piece, but I still value it for its rarity and uniqueness.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#465 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.