Kyanite & Staurolite (classic locale)

Item Description

Gemmy, blue Kyanite crystals along with reddish-brown Staurolite prisms are richly and attractively scattered on both sides of sculptural, large mica schist matrix. The Kyanites reach 3.6 cm and the Staurolites reach 1.2 cm long. This is classic old material from the Swiss Alps (we have seen specimens that go back to the late 1700s!) and is seldom on the market today. The mica schist is called Paragonite and is an uncommon Sodium-rich member of the Mica Group. Sponda Alp is the Type Locality (MINDAT). Formerly in the Joe Cilen Collection No. 2320. Joe was a well-known New Jersey collector, who accumulated over 23,000 specimens. He passed away in 1997. Ex Chet Lemanski Collection No. 16926CL and acquired in 2001. An excellent and highly representative example of the combination species and famous locale.