Epidote and Byssolite

Item Description

This is from an iconic series of finds from Pakistan, instantly recognizable to collectors who were there as they came out in the 1980s-1990s as a shocking new find. Epidote is one of the most desired of all the Alpine cleft species, with some of the finest in the world having come out of Pakistan. These specimens are seemingly identical to the classic Alpine specimens from Europe, and are now quite hard to get. This piece consists of a Byssolite-covered rod with multiple spines of gemmy Epidote blades growing from it. The largest Epidote is 1.6 cm wide, and like all the others, it has superb luster. While the tallest crystal has a broken termination, the vast majority of the Epidotes are complete. These pieces are highly coveted by Alpine collectors, and good pieces are next to impossible to obtain from the classic European localities. To me, this is their equal with such outstanding aesthetics. The pieces I like best from this locality show this splayed, branching arrangement, and are simply very hard to come by. NOTE: there is some debate today about reclassifying some of this material as clinozoisite - or a series. We go with the old names we grew up seeing on labels, and it has the same appeal and value whether as epidote or clinozoisite. Valued $1500-ish. From the private collection of Herb Obodda, who opened up Pakistan in the 1980s.