Quartz with Ajoite and Copper incl. (1980s find)

Item Description

We try to buy every one of these sharp blue phantoms that come now only out of old collections! Ajoite inclusions in Quartz, showing these sharp shapes within, ONLY came out in this fine quality in the 1980s. This specimen is important because it shows a CLUSTER, hosting the main point with the pristine, sharp, easily visible phantom. Most of these are rather diffuse or light in color, but this is a relatively intense coloration and sharply defined inclusion. There is also a phantom of black material, perhaps manganese, which serves to highlight and define the blue zone. Lastly, note the clear inclusion of native COPPER (circled above) - a rarity! For collectors who wish for more than the usual style, a single, having the chance to obtain a cluster is a rare treat these days. More modern material came out around 2008 or 2010, but those were big crystals, and a very different style. Specimens of this quality can be priced very highly in China, where the inclusions are considered auspicious - and we have tried and failed to repatriate specimens from Chinese collectors in these last few years. They value colorful quartz phantoms too highly there....and so more and more drift over into Chinese collections over time. 

This specimen is part of the 2024 Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium benefit auction, with proceeds benefiting Mineralogical Record, Rocks & Minerals, Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, and mindat.org. Thanks to all of our participants!

Billing for this auction will occur on Monday, August 19th, for payment using PayPal or a credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost.