Kyanite (huge single crystal) ex Jack Halpern Collection

Item Description

For those of you that took mineralogy and petrology in college, there is a good chance you were struck by the beauty and sapphire-blue color associated with the metamorphic mineral, Kyanite. In specimens, most are rather ugly but the gorgeous Kyanites from Barra do Salinas are famous. At almost 20 cm (and 540 grams!), the size of this crystal is stunning and about as large as you will find ! Factor in the rivers of sapphire-blue and silver flowing alongside each other the length of this crystal, greatly enhanced by the superb, pearly luster, and you have an imposing, highly aesthetic specimen that is as impressive a large Kyanite crystal as you are likely to find for this style. Most are jumbly clusters, or thin elongated blades. This huge crystal simply stands out. Old material, and ex Hawthorneden specimen, this stood proudly in the Halpern collection for decades next to fancier gem tourmalines and the like. There are numerous references to Jack and his collection in print, but perhaps a good tour of the collection and its history will help give perspective on just how good, and important, this collection is: https://www.irocks.com/the-jack-halpern-collection