Heulandite

Item Description

When a thumbnail collection exceeds 1000 pieces, and is grown by a true connoisseur of minerals, the goal often becomes both to acquire famous and amazing expensive pieces that will be iconic in the collection; and also to acquire DIVERSITY of spectacular examples of species to add breadth to the collection. This group of 3 orange crystals is just that, a choice, truly special thumbnail example for both aesthetics and locality, of an otherwise very common species. Alex Schauss prided himself on adding a few hundred thumbnails to the collection of such "exquisite commons" - pieces others might say are not of sophisticated species but, here, when you look at 1000 pieces on display and see that they encompass 400-plus species, you have to see his point. Such common species thumbnails becaome important in these large collections, but you have to be selective (as he was!) and look for unique attributes. Here, it is both color, and location.