Spodumene var: Kunzite (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

Here we have a fantastic and RARELY seen matrix specimen of Kunzite from the elusive Katerina Mine in Pala, California. We've honestly only seen a handful of Kunzites from this mine over the years, and they're almost always loose singles with no matrix. This piece features an attractive, gemmy, saturated pinkish-purple colored prismatic crystal of Kunzite beautifully flaring off beige colored Montmorillonite clay matrix. The Kunzite crystal is slightly etched, but it's essentially crystallized on all sides, with no major damage, save one small "fish eye" in the central portion of the prism. The Kunzite is actually technically doubly-terminated, as I can see a tiny bit of the lower termination poking through the edge of the matrix. A stellar example that would make a fine addition to any pegmatite collection, a gem crystal collection or a suite of minerals from San Diego County. Collected in the 1980s. Originally priced in our inventory at $6,500.
From the collection of Brian Kosnar, and originally from the collection of Bill Larson of Fallbrook, California. Bill is a well-known gem and mineral dealer as well as a miner and collector. Bill is synonymous with minerals of San Diego County, and owned and operated famous mines such as the Stewart Lithia, the Tourmaline Queen, the Pala Chief and the Himalaya, producing some of the most iconic mineral specimens to come out of the area during the 1970s-1980s. You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/