Quartz and Topaz ps. Orthoclase

Item Description

This specimen started life as a sharp, doubly-terminated Carlsbad Twin Orthoclase crystal within a granitic matrix. Remarkably, over time is was pseudomorphed into Topaz. Yes, Topaz - who would have thought! I am sure these old classics had to be analyzed at a lab at some point to identify Topaz as the pseudomorphing mineral species, but so they have proven to be (and we have seen others - smaller than this). This combination has to be very rare in nature. The hexagonal crystal is in very good shape, save for the smallest edge being contacted, and it sits up on the granite pedestal perfectly. Very good aesthetics for these rare pseudos from Saxony. It is probably one of the few such of display size and quality, and is quite presentable in a showcase compared to other, generally ugly, feldspar-involved pseudomorphs. This is a special old classic, rarely seen in such size! valued $1000. NOTE ADDED AFTER POSTING courtesy of Dr. Simon Kocher, from the BMNH:  Although historically reported as topaz after orthoclase more recent analysis show that it actually is quartz and mica after orthoclase with only very minor topaz (Hyrsl, J. & Massanek, A. (2002): Topas - Pseudomorphosen aus dem Schneckenstein-Gebiet? Lapis, 27 (1), 46-47).