Spodumene (heavily etched ''floater'' crystal) with Smoky Quartz

Item Description

Going back to the 1990s, we have seen some truly impressive Spodumene crystals coming out of various pegmatite localities in Afghanistan. The top specimens are certainly some of the best gem quality and superbly well-crystallized examples of Spodumene in the world, most notably some of the finest Kunzite crystals ever found. This piece is an interesting soft greenish-yellow crystal of Spodumene. It's a highly sculptural beautiful, doubly-terminated (multi-terminated) crystal, with no point of attachment, making it a complete "floater". The crystal has fairly good luster all around, and incredibly dramatic hydrothermal etching which gives it an almost ethereal appearance. I can't find any damage, and it's even somewhat gemmy in areas when backlit. Additionally, if you look closely, there is a tiny dark Smoky Quartz crystal that can be seen embedded in the Spodumene. The Smoky Quartz is essentially frozen INSIDE the Spodumene (perhaps it was deposited after the Spodumene was already etched). You'll never see another one exactly like this piece as the etching makes the piece so unique. Specimen weight is 57.50 grams. Priced in the inventory at $950.