Tinzenite (rare and fine) (ex Charlie Key Collection)

Item Description

Tinzenite is a rare member of the Axinite group and specimens from South Africa are very rare. They as beautiful as they are rare with a wonderfully attractive 'burnt orange' color and extremely large crystals for the species (reaching or exceeding the largest from Val Tinzenello in Italy). The tabular crystals are clustered together forming almost "rosette"-like groups, and the luster on the actual crystal faces is quite glassy. Those faces, tiny though they might be, allow you to appreciate how translucent to gemmy parts of the crystals are when you look down onto them. Overall, this is an exceptional specimen that is also of mineralogical significance. The largest individual Tinzenite crystal measures 5 mm. Wessels Tinzenites may not be from the type locality, but they are the world's best in my opinion. Valued at $3,500 in the inventory. This specimen is from the collection of Charlie Key, who is the most significant mineral dealer of the second half the 20th century, and has the rare honor of having TWO minerals named after him (Keyite and Ludlockite).