Quartz (bipyramidal crystals) included with Hedenbergite

Item Description

A big showy and impressive example of these seldom-seen Quartz specimens from the 2nd Sovetskii Mine in Dalnegorsk, featuring a sculptural group of very sharp, lustrous, notably well-formed, bi-pyramidal (Cumberland habit) Quartz crystals with a distinct muted green color due to inclusions of Hedenbergite, associated with thin black prismatic crystals of Ilvaite on the base. The largest Quartz crystal is a composite group on the lower portion of the piece which measures about 7.3 cm. Please note that the top portion of the specimen is contacted, presumably where it was attached to the hanging wall of the pocket. Overall it a remarkable and eye-catching example of these very distinctive Quartz specimens that came out in the 1990s. Valued $2,500.
The piece was pictured in Collector's Guide to Quartz and Other Silica Minerals (written by Bob Lauf), but please note that the book is not included with this listing.
From the collection of longtime mineral collector Dr. Bob Lauf (Collection #2375), the author of the Mineral Collectors Guide books (Schiffer Publishing), widely seen at mineral shows and libraries. Robert Lauf grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, ultimately receiving a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering. His scientific career included over twenty years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he conducted research on topics ranging from nuclear fuel, coal by-products, materials synthesis, microwave processing, sensors, optical materials, and biomineralization. He has been granted over forty U.S. Patents for his inventions, many of which have become successful industrial products. He is now a Registered Patent Agent and technology consultant.