Titanite (unique crystal habit)

Item Description

Titanite is found in various Alpine cleft deposits around the world. The most famous crystals from the European Alps have been found in various localities in Austria and Switzerland. With that said, I think it's fair to say that some of the more interesting Titanite specimens in the world have come out of the "Alpine-type" cleft deposits in Pakistan going back to the 1990s In some cases, these specimens are seemingly identical to the classic Alpine specimens from Europe. Most often, Titanite is green, but the diggings at Hashupa have produced some very eye-catching colored crystals (tan, peach, golden, etc.), that are certainly different from the typically "wedge"-shaped green crystals for which the species is known. This piece is a very good sized, sharp, lustrous, gemmy/translucent, unique, pastel greenish-golden colored, thick disc-shaped crystal group of Titanite, free of matrix. The piece is complete all around, though is does have a bit of roughness on the bottom edges, so it's not 100% pristine. Certainly DIFFERENT than almost any other Titanite crystal you'll find from any other world locality. Valued at $1,000. This piece is from the collection of the well-known mineral dealer and collector Richard Kosnar (1946-2007) from Colorado, who was a serious fan of Alpine and "Alpine-Type" minerals from around the world. He was especially fond of minerals from the European Alpine clefts and the nearly identical deposits in Pakistan.