Afghanite (great quality)

Rabote, Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm
Start Time: 07/06/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/13/2017 7:13:23 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

This complex alumosilicate is one of the more obscure members of the Cancrinite group, especially in fine quality specimens. Typcially Afghanite crystals, no matter how saturated the color may be, are opaque. This specimen hosts a beautiful, sharp, lustrous, well-formed, prismatic crystal of Afghanite measuring 2.0 cm with a fantastic gemmy Sapphire blue color when backlit jutting out of a massive Calcite matrix. A great display specimen of a species that is only found in good sized specimens from one part of the world. There seems to a be a tiny imperfection on the termination, but it's still very showy and attractive for the species and hard to replace on the market these days. Valued at $1500.

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