Petalite (big gemmy crystal) (ex Herb Obodda Collection)

Item Description

There are not many places in the world where fine large crystals of Petalite can be found, but circa 2003 there were some impressive examples discovered at the famous locality at Paprok in Afghanistan. This piece is from that find and is one of the best examples we've seen for what it is. It's a large, stout, sharp, lustrous prismatic crystal with a soft golden color and good gem sections here and there. The piece could easily yield many large fine quality stones, though you would never butcher such a fine example of the species. The surface luster is excellent, though you can see there is a good amount of hydrothermal etching to create a nice mix of smooth and rugged areas all over the crystal. The piece weighs in at 179.26 grams, and were it not for a nick on the top of the termination, it would be essentially damage free on the display side. I can't tell if the back of the crystal is fully crystallized or if it's a smooth cleavage face. You just don't see Petalites of this size or quality from anywhere these days, and if you collect pegmatite minerals, you can't afford to miss out on this one. From the PERSONAL COLLECTION (not inventory) of Herb Obodda (Specimen #1131). Valued at $1,250.