Spinel var: Pleonaste

Item Description

This is an eye-catching, classic example of these distinctive Spinel specimens from Aldan, Sakha, Russia dating back about 25 years ago. These distinctive Spinel crystals are well-known for their excellent size, form and crystal habits, which often feature a combination of two or more habits at the same time. This piece host a few sharp, well-formed, jet-black (Pleonaste) crystals with dodecahedral and octahedral faces, along with what appear to be trisoctahedral faces, measuring up to 1.9 cm across, sitting on grey Calcite matrix with minor associated Mica. No major damage that I can see, and the crystals are beautifully positioned at the top of the specimen, creating a showy display piece. Hard to find on the market now, and if you're a fan of Spinels, these are a must have for your collection.
From the collection of Colin Manlove.