Topaz on Smoky Quartz with Albite (ex Rolando Gioia Collection)

Item Description

Matrix blue Topaz specimens from Brazil are rare. Nearly all of the Topaz crystals I've seen from Brazil (regardless of color) are loose single crystals. This piece is from the famous area around Virgem da Lapa, which has produced some of the finest crystallized blue Topaz in the world. This piece features a 1.3 cm, lustrous, GEMMY, fine blue color, beautifully etched crystal of Topaz sitting on a gemmy, doubly-terminated Smoky Quartz crystal with a radial group of Albite (var: Cleavelandite). The combination of all three species along with the beautiful form of the piece make it a desirable and frankly rare specimen from this classic locality. Rare for what it is, and difficult to photograph, but it looks great in person. Valued at $750 From the collection of Rolando Gioia (a contributor to new definitive book on Brazilian minerals: "Minerais e Pedras Preciosas do Brasil").