Samarskite (very rare)

Item Description

The famous quote from John Sinkankas was "gems are minerals after all". In our continued efforts to promote the importance of gemstones for ALL collectors, we want to give mineral collectors a chance at a rare cut stone that complements a choice mineral specimen from a classic locality. Some of the finest mineral collections in the world are accompanied by gemstones that either complete a "rough and cut" set for certain specimens, or simply show the beauty of particular species when they are faceted. We are offering this stone as an opportunity for collectors to expand their horizons and purchase gemstones that would supplement crystallized specimens in their collections. I think it is important for collectors to know that faceted stones can expand one's interests in minerals and can add a certain reverence to the hobby of collecting minerals. Samarskite is a complex rare-earth oxide, and was named after Colonel Vasilii Yefrafovich von Samarski-Bykhovets who was the chief of Staff of the Russian Corps of Mining Engineers in the 1800s. This is one of the very few faceted gems of this material that I have ever had to offer in the auctions. The stone is black and opaque, but is from a brand new find in Afghanistan! For rare stone collectors, I'm sure that very few of you have one of these stones in your collection, so be sure to pick this one up, as it is the only gem I have of the material at this moment in time, though I'm trying to get more.