Microcline (var: Hyalophane) (Gem Quality Feldspar)

Item Description

The finest crystals of Hyalophane ever found have come from the famous Zagradski Potok Mine in Bosnia & Herzegovina. These are some of the most impressive example of crystallized Feldspar ever found due to their impressive gemminess and size along with the fine sharpness and luster of the crystals. It should be noted that Hyalophane for many years was considered a valid species, but it is now defined as a barium-bearing variety of Microcline (though I did see one note on mindat that said Hyalophane can apply to either Orthoclase or Microcline). With that said, it does not take away from the undeniable quality of this material. It's important to note that the vast majority of the Feldspar in the world is opaque and often doesn't have good luster. The crystals of Hyalophane from the Zagradski Potok Mine are brilliantly reflective and often rather gemmy. This stone is a beautiful "Modified Rhombus" cut stone that is virtually colorless with minor visible inclusions. It's incredibly hard to find completely clean stones of this material, unless they are very small. What's really interesting is that the inclusions actually create a play of color, similar to the iridescent flashes that one would see in a Moonstone, so they're actually bringing color to what would be a colorless stone. These gems are virtually impossible to find on the market today, and this piece is a good sized example of this rare gem quality Feldspar. A must have for any fan of worldwide Feldspars, or hard to find faceted gems.