large, important Clinozoisite (formerly Epidote)

Item Description

Clinozoisite (or Epidote as well, as these were formerly labelled by most of us)  is not often the most glamorous of large mineral specimens, and most large specimens should be expected to be repaired and restored in any case. This, however, is a huge, dramatic, sculptural, and even "important" specimen that is a full cabinet size. It is an intact cluster of gemmy translucent Clinozoisite crystals, stacked not only upon each other to make an unlikely cluster, but growing out from a common centerline in the same way as does a faden quartz or a faden apatite. This habit of growth is much more rare in other species, such as epidote or Clinozoisite, but that is indeed what we have here. You can see this centerline running diagonally through the cluster, top to bottom, in some lights. This oriented growth generally occurs in quartz, rarely in other species. Also, it would take a large open space to make an Clinozoisite of this size! The piece is complete all around, and in stunning condition. Crystals of this magnitude are generally not seen. It should be valued highly, perhaps $7500-10,000. NOTE ADDED BY DR WOODSIDE: This "epidote" on such specimens on nearly all old labels  is now known to actually be Clinozoisite. It probes with less than 5% Fe making it Clinozoisite. I'll bet a lot of the epidotes are clinos, especially the lighter ones.