Quartz (var: Chalcedony) (''Desert Rose'') (ex Al Kidwell Collection)

Item Description

A wonderful example of these seldom seen specimens from Barros Cassal. The label accompanying this piece calls it a "Desert Rose", which is typically used for Gypsum roses included with sand particles from arid localities around the world. This piece is a banded semi-flower-esque specimen with a silvery-grey color and a sparkling / drusy luster on the front. The reverse side of the piece shows how it grew in layers and features a bit of attached matrix in the center. I've found a photo of a similar specimen (albeit on matrix) from the same locality for reference ( https://www.mindat.org/photo-868955.html ). From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.