Microcline var. Amazonite with Cleavelandite ex Halpern Collection

Item Description

A striking and commanding Amazonite cluster from the great Crystal Peak area, part of the world-renowned Pikes Peak Batholith. The color is excellent, and the large, doubly-terminated main crystal is exceptional for its size. One characteristic that this cabinet piece has are the sought-after and highly desirable, creamy-white Microcline "caps" that can modify both faces and terminations. This effect is rare, and when you are fortunate enough to find a good specimen with it, the piece can be raised to a whole new level. Complete all-around and in excellent condition, this is a high quality cabinet specimen with excellent colors and aesthetics. Lastly, it is doubly terminated, crystallized on the bottom as well , although not as sharply as on top! It was collected by Richard Kosnar in 1985 from the small, but clearly high-quality, pocket at the Powder Ridge claim; and sold to Jack by the finder's son Brian Kosnar from the family collection. This is 1192 grams, nearly 1.2 KILOS! There are numerous references to Jack and his collection in print, but perhaps a good tour of the collection and its history will help give perspective on just how good, and important, this collection is: https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection. This is a SIGNIFICANT amazonite specimen, for the sharpness, color, cluster, and the overall impactful size. Although other locations in the same geological zone are still mined today commercially for Amazonite, this style is a little bit different from modern material in its overall style and in the cleavelandite association, and in any case anything even remotely comparable found in modern digging would rightly cost five figures, easily. Add the fact that this specimen has no repairs, and it is itself certainly a five figure specimen valued over $10,000 today.