Fluorvesuvianite (incredibly rare) (great color)

North Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan
Thumbnail, 0.8 x 0.7 x 0.4 cm
Start Time: 07/08/2019 6:30:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 07/11/2019 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

As the name suggests, Fluorvesuvianite is part of Vesuvianite Group, but has a dominant fluorine ion in its chemical composition. There are only TWO known localities for the material, the first being the type locality at the Lupikko Mine in Russia, and some brand new specimens from a recent discovery in North Waziristan, Pakistan (no specific locality has been given). The most exciting aspect of these new specimens is that unlike the Russian piece (which form in thin white fibers up to a few mm), the Pakistani specimens are blockier in habit and have a very alluring smoky blue-purple hue to them. Additionally the Pakistani specimens are a bit gemmy when backlit. Now this particular specimen is not completely crystallized, it's a partial crystal, but it's not a micro and it has a beautiful color. We were able to pick up a handful of these specimens in Tucson, and if you collect rarities, you cannot afford to miss out on picking up a piece of this incredibly rare material with such wonderful color. From what I've been told this piece came from a very limited find, and it's unclear if more will ever be available.

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