Microcline with Albite and Smoky Quartz (ex Geary Murdock Collection)

Item Description

The Sawtooth Mountains are known for producing some of the finest Aquamarine crystals in North America, but it also produced its share of attractive Feldspar and Quartz combinations. It's hard to find attractive display quality large cabinet specimens like this from these pegmatite deposits. This piece hosts many sharp, well-formed, slightly pink colored blocky Microcline crystals measuring up to 2.8 cm which are associated with and partially covered by off-white colored, bladed crystals of Albite to form an attractive "plate". The final touch the piece are several sharp, well-formed, gemmy to translucent Smoky Quartz crystals measuring up to 2.1 cm long. For the most part, the piece is in very good shape, thought a few nicks and contacts can be seen on the display side. Regardless, you would be hard pressed to get your hands on a piece of this size with such good crystallization and overall appeal these days. From the worldwide collection of noted Idaho collector Geary Murdock. Among other accomplishments, Geary was responsible for discovering some of the finest gem grade deep blue Aquamarine crystals in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho - which remain arguably the finest Aquamarines from any North American locality. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36634006/geary-jack-murdock