Vivianite (beautiful bi-color crystal) (ex Richard Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

The Vivianite crystals from the Blackbird Mine in Idaho are some of the most iconic examples of the species from any world locality. They not only have distinctive coloring, but many of these crystals are actually bi-colored, like this piece showing a nearly 50/50 split of gorgeous green and rich purple hues on each end. The crystal is notably gemmy and just needs a little backlighting for the color to come through. The luster on the surface is quite good for the material as they can often be dull on the surface, but it's important to note that this piece was stored in a closed dark box away from heat and light for decades. It will eventually turn black and opaque if it's not cared for in the same manner. This crystal was collected in the 1960s and was part of the worldwide collection of well-known dealer and collector, Richard Kosnar (1946-2007) of Colorado, who was the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite.