Lazulite (excellent large specimen) (ex Alex Venzke Collection)

Item Description

When it comes to specimens of Lazulite, the area around Rapid Creek has produced the finest examples in the world in terms of color and quality. This rare magnesium aluminum phosphate ranges in color from a seafoam-green to the intense midnight blue color synonymous with this locality. The area around Rapid Creek is only accessible for a few months in the summer for collecting (it's under snow and ice the rest of the year), and is some of the most treacherous terrain in the world for collecting specimens. This is a very hard to find LARGE CABINET display piece featuring dozens excellent quality, razor sharp, highly lustrous, very well formed, monoclinic, deep inky blue color crystals of Lazulite measuring up to 9 mm associated with gemmy brown rhombic Siderite and small gem Quartz crystals on matrix. Most of the main Lazulite crystals are undamaged, though there is some roughness around the periphery where the piece was removed from the pocket, but it's very important to stress how hard it is to find such fine quality example of this classic material in this size range. A truly impressive and beautiful example of these beloved specimens. Valued between $4,000-$5,000 retail for the superior size and quality. This specimen comes from the collection of our own Alex Venzke (#24.18), member of the leadership team of the Young Mineral Collectors group, a member of the mindat.org management team, a board member for the national Friends of Mineralogy organization, a board member for the Mineralogical Society of the District of Columbia, and co-founder and current Vice President of the Friends of Mineralogy Virginia Chapter.