Lepidolite on Muscovite w/ Quartz and Orthoclase (Kidwell Coll.)

Item Description

A spectacular and RARE large Lepidolite combination from an unknown pegmatite in Governador Valadares. A fabulous very broad, sharp, pearlescent octahedral-shaped Muscovite book is fantastically covered with pearlescent dark purple to lavender, layered Lepidolite! A very sharp, contrasting 5.7 x 5.0 x 2.8 cm tabular orthoclase crystal is dramatically set on one side of the 360-degree piece. AND the Muscovite book grew around striking Quartz crystals embedded in the Muscovite. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008) and probably dates to the 1970s or 80s. Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974. RARE and exotic looking large Lepidolite combination from the locale. this is one of a very few LEPIDOLITE SPECIMENS - in other words, a major example of the species that stands on its own, not as an accessory to something else. so rare, it is hard to value but we all agreed here it could easily go on a shelf for 4-5k