Rutilated Quartz (with unusual silver rutile)

Item Description

Rutile included quartzes are some of the most important classic finds in Brazil, and they are the best in the world for this association, inarguably. For every 100 with golden rutile inside that you see on the market, you might see one mediocre silver-rutile inclusion piece. This is an old piece from one of the oldest and largest California collections built during the "Golden Years" of shows and mineral collecting of the 1950s-1970s by Hubert Charles de Monmonier. It features Silver-colored rutile enclosed within Quartz is much more uncommon than the golden variety, and this is one of the best and most unique terminated crystals of Brazilian Rutilated Quartz that I have ever seen for sale for that style. This is an old piece, probably from the 1970s or before. It originates from the Hubert Charles de Monmonier collection - a long-hidden (more or less secret) trove of good minerals that was donated to the University of Arizona upon his passing, circa 2008. The expertly polished faces reveal the prolific amount of Rutile needles within the big Quartz crystal that have a preferred orientation and radiate from a central, bifurcating spire at almost a perfect 45-degree angle. Literally, hundreds of these silvery Rutile needles grace the interior of this magnificent piece and reflect incident light from every direction! The interior resembles the aluminum artificial Christmas trees of the 1950s! The superb polishing reveals the dramatic interior like a window, showing off the glistening, directionally preferred Rutiles. This stunning piece comes with a custom engraved acrylic base. 860 grams (about 2 pounds). Valued $2000-2500.

This specimen is part of the 2022 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 22, for payment using PayPal or a credit card. Shipping will be billed at cost.