Pollucite (gemmy crystal)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful thumbnail sized specimen of Pollucite from Paprok, one of the most famous localities in Afghanistan. Many people will think of the superb Tourmalines that have been found at this locality over the last few decades, but I imagine most people don't immediately conjure images of zeolites when it comes to gem-bearing pegmatite localities. With that said, Paprok has produced what are some of the finest examples of Pollucite ever found. Pollucite is a very rare cesium bearing zeolite mineral species, and the best crystals are often found in pegmatite unlike igneous deposits where most zeolites species. This piece is a gemmy, colorless crystal of Pollucite, free of matrix from this famous locale. The crystal has visible dodecahedral and trapezohedral faces, but there is some surface etching in areas, so not all the faces are smooth. This material is prized for its rarity and quality, and you don't often see gemmy examples of the species in this size from anywhere. This is an older piece, dating back to the early 2000s, and good Pollucites haven't been coming out of Afghanistan in nearly the frequency as they did 20 years ago.
Ex Brian Kosnar specimen