Phenakite (RARE, old ,prismatic crystal ) Kay Robertson Coll.

Item Description

A VERY RARE phenakite from the Type Locality for phenakite. The tabular prismatic, glassy, lustrous, tranparent to translucent, untwinned crystal is Complete all-around and pristine, and the crystal is nicely attached to a bit of schist matrix on the back. Ex Kay Robertson Collection # 6182 - acquired from the Cisneros' at the 1970 Federation Show in Pleasanton. Her label say the Takowaja River, an old locality name of a nearby river, but not the true locality where emeralds and this piece were found. Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record). A superb exmaple of a very old classic!