Scapolite (good color)

Item Description

When you think about purple minerals, if you eliminate Amethyst and Fluorite, there suddenly aren't nearly as many species with this color. Scapolite falls into this category, but it's important to note that most Scapolite crystals are either colorless or yellow and rarely purple. In 2010 at Dara-e-Pech, some of the most intensely purple examples of Scapolite were found. Now it should be noted that Scapolite is not an actual name of a species, it's a group name for Marialite and Meionite, but it's nearly impossible to discern the species visually, so you'll see them labeled as Scapolite nearly all the time. This thumbnail sized piece is an attractive group with well-formed faces, good luster and decent translucency. The sheer thickness make it an very nice representation of purple Scapolite. It is complete-all-around except for a slight imperfection on the back edge, and obviously it's contacted on the base where it detached from the pocket wall. The combination of the steep pyramidal cap, the intensity of the color, and the fact that it's a complete euhedral crystal group is RARE in the mineral world. Specimen weight is 14.48 grams (72.40 carats)