Spodumene var: Triphane (''floater'' crystal)

Item Description

This is a wonderful "floater" crystal of Triphane from the famed Oceanview Mine in San Diego County, California. Triphane is not a species, bur rather a varietal name for yellow or sometimes light green colored Spodumene crystals. This small cabinet sized piece is a fine, gemmy, lustrous, eye-catching, soft yellow colored doubly-terminated "floater" Kunzite crystal from a find in 2011. The crystal is beautifully striated, and like all Spodumenes is pleochroic, showing a slightly stronger greenish-yellow hue when viewed down the "c" axis. Classic, graceful surface etching can be seen on all sides, which is seen in virtually every crystal from the locality. Weighs 83.0 grams. Valued $1,500.
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. Bill is also known as "Burma Bill" and traveled the world for decades in search of fine gems and minerals, and was directly involved in the in-person acquisition and importation of superb specimens and stones from Myanmar (Burma). You can read his biography at https://mineralogicalrecord.com/biographies_labels/larsonwilliam-f/