Turquoise (rare classic material) (ex Al Kidwell Collection)

Item Description

Arkansas is well-known for several distinctive mineral deposits, but most people aren't aware that it has produced some of the most beautiful Turquoise from any locality in the United States. This piece is from the Mona Lisa Mine, arguably the premier locality for Turquoise in Arkansas, at least in terms of name recognition. The combination of beautiful blue and green colors seen from this mine along with some display quality specimens make them very desirable, especially now that nothing has come out since the 1980s after the mine was permanently closed. This attractive small cabinet specimen features a few strong blue colored patches of Turquoise sitting on greywacke matrix. Very hard to find on the market, and certainly a must have if you collect phosphates, minerals of Arkansas, or if you're a fan of worldwide Turquoise. From the worldwide mineral collection of Albert Lewis Kidwell (January 1, 1919 - August 16, 2008). Al was a well-known mineral collector and research geologist with Carter Oil Company and later Exxon Oil Company in Houston, Texas. The phosphate species Kidwellite was named in his honor in 1974.