Large Phenakite (rare, old) with gem value, ex Whitmore Coll.

Item Description

Phenakite is uncommon beryllium silicate. This is a HUGE, old-time, gem crystal from Brazil. It is a highly modified, flattened rhomb, with many facet-like crystal faces. Complete all-around, this floater has contacted faces, lower on the crystal, and only a little actual bruising. It I snot perfect...but it nevertheless is a significant, and hard to find (at any reasonable price) phenakite specimen from the important finds here of the 1940s and early 1950s (the "Pough era" as some call it). Ex Robert Whitmore Collection. the piece is 82 grams which is quite hefty - and it is FAT, with large gem areas inside. We estimate a 50% yield of relatively clean cutting material here. The phenacite from this locality takes a beautiful cut and polish! this is a substantial intrinsic value-added.