Scheelite on Muscovite (ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection)

Item Description

The specimens from Pingwu are some of the most unique and attractive minerals from any locality in China. Without question, the most impressive specimens of Scheelite are found at this locality, which have set the standard for the species worldwide. This specimen hosts several fine quality, sharp, lustrous, pseudo-octahedral crystals of gemmy reddish-orange colored Scheelite measuring 3.2 cm which is sitting atop a crystallized matrix of compressed, bladed, silvery Muscovite. The quality is EXCELLENT all around, with no major damage anywhere. A great quality and highly displayable association specimen from this unique locality. Ex Dr. Stephen Smale Collection, whose old collection label had a value of $5,000 on it from nearly 15 years ago, and I put the value of the piece more in the $7,500-$10,000 range in today's market. Along with amassing one of the finest private mineral collections in the world, Steve is a renowned mathematician. His accomplishments include being awarded the Fields Medal in 1966 along with being the awarded the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 2007. You can read Steve's bio on the Mineralogical Record website ( https://mineralogicalrecord.com/labels.asp?colid=671&page=1 ) or on Wikipedia.