Spodumene var. Kunzite with Quartz

Item Description

Afghanistan is certainly the modern world's dominant producer of specimen quality crystals of both triphane and kunzite, these more common names being the green and pink varieties of the same crystalline gem species known to science as spodumene. At 1.5 kilos (1519 g = 3 pounds and 5.5811 ounces), this is a hefty "wand" of multicolored gem crystal. It is a combination of both varieties, the pink kunzite encasing the yellow-green core of triphane spodumene, within. A minor bit of quartz crystal growth hangs off one side. With a strong light, it is definitely more pink , while in weaker light you see the bicolor better. Strong light shone in from the top or bottom yields a stunning, intense pink tone to kunzites, and so this will light differently depending on how and where you display it. It is, regardless of display, a monster single crystal nearly 9 inches tall, and complete all around. Most interestingly as a specimen, larger kunzites tend to show etching or deformity at the terminations, while this one is really sharp, with razor-beveled edges on the top two terminations. You can see this, and compare it to others online. In this size, such sharp terminations are seldom perfect or complete. Crystals of this size, without damage, are few and far between - but it is the sharpness of those spectacular terminations that makes this special, and why it was long in the collection of noted gem collector, Gene Meieran. Valued $15-20,000. Please note that strong light on the c-axis (longwise from bottom to top or vice versa) is what brings out the strong color of pink in such crystals, and it will not look as pink sitting in room light.