Titanite (''Faden''-esque group)

Item Description

While Pakistan might be best-known to most collectors for various pegmatite gem minerals, there are a few "Alpine-type" cleft localities in the Shigar Valley which have produced specimens which resemble the classic old Alpine minerals from the European Alps. A few decades back, (1990s), there was a discovery at Hashupa that produced some unique Titanite specimens, both in terms of crystal habit and the overall style of the crystal formation. This piece is a beautiful and unusual Titanite from that discovery featuring a stacked group of notably compressed "discs" of beautiful light green Titanite, with individual crystals measuring up to 2.4 cm across. The Titanites have formed in what looks like a "Faden"-esque growth, and there almost seems to be a "thread" that runs through the crystals from one end to the other. Hashupa is the only locality in the world where I've seen Titanite crystals like this both in their morphology and the unusual stacked formation. Keep in mind that flattened Titanite crystals are also rare in nature, as the species typically is found in "wedge"-shaped crystals. A really interesting and out-of-the-box style Titanite for any fan of "Alpine-type" species or minerals of Pakistan.
From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and collector from Colorado. He was the namesake for the rare zirconium phosphate mineral, Kosnarite.