Microcline (large Baveno twin)

Item Description

Here is an impressive specimen for the Feldpsar collectors out there. This is from a find in Pakistan near the end of 2005. This is something that is not often seen from this country, or any country for that matter. This specimen features a fine quality, large, thick / blocky, sharp, lustrous, porcelain-esque "Baveno" twinned crystal of Microcline associated with very minor black Schorl crystals along with reddish Spessartine Garnet and colorless Quartz crystals on the back. It's actually a near "floater" as it's healed / recrystallized on the reverse side, so it virtually crystallized all the way around. "Baveno" twins occur in Feldspars and are quite scarce in such THICK crystals with such excellent form. Baveno twin crystals are elongated along the b axis, and the twinning plane, a diagonal one, runs through opposite edges of the prismatic crystal. The name of this twin comes from the locality in Italy where this twin was first observed. These twins are very hard to obtain from Pakistan, especially is such large, hefty examples.. This piece is a great quality "Baveno" twin with excellent form, and looks like a beautiful piece of marble. Valued at $2,000 for the size and quality.