Ilvaite and Quartz

Item Description

Dalnegorsk has produced a plethora of fabulous specimens representing a variety of mineral species and one of the prominent ones is Ilvaite. Dalnegorsk is considered to have produced the best of species in terms of shape and luster in the miniature to small cabinet size range (China has produced larger ones, however, these are arguably more aesthetic and lustrous). One larger and numerous smaller Ilvaite crystals are exquisitely intergrown with numerous Quartz crystal gems on this well composed piece. The gloss-black Ilvaites range from 2 mm to 2.5 cm and are sharp tetragonal prisms with perfect, wide wedge-shaped terminations. These Ilvaites provide ideal contrast with the stubby, little jewel-like Quartz crystals that average 8 mm in size with all of them terminated and some of them doubly so. The Quartz crystals are transparent to slightly translucent and have only tiny prism faces so they resemble like beta-Quartz crystals, but they are not. The Ilvaite and Quartz crystals are arranged with great composition and contrast! Speaking of composition, Ilvaite is an uncommon calcium ferrous-ferric iron silicate. The Ilvaite crystals are lightly striated and shows some barely perceptible growth features along their length that are subdued by the striations. Old material from the 1980s or 1990s. Superb combo piece.