Stellerite with Pyrite on Calcite

Item Description

A beautiful association specimen from Rudny, Kazakhstan featuring a rich coverage of soft salmon-orange colored "sheaf"-like crystals of what is very likely Stellerite (though it could possibly be Stilbite) sitting atop silvery-grey colored scalenohedral crystals of Calcite measuring up to 4.1 cm on matrix. There is a light dusting of metallic golden Pyrite on top of the Stellerite for a nice touch. No major damage that I can see anywhere. These pieces were mined circa 1980s-1990s, and this particular specimen is one of the best examples of this particular material that I've ever had to offer from the Sarbai Deposit. If I had this one for sale on the shelf at a show, I would have it in the $1,500 range.
From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#371 RU), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection over the coming months and years through our various platforms.