Stellerite (good quality) (ex Rich Kosnar collection)

Item Description

Most people don't know how fine the numerous Zeolites and associated species from the various quarries in the Watchung Moutains actually are. The Braen's Quarry was for many years seldom collected locality, but recently some daring individuals made their way into the quarry to collect some very attractive Stilbite and Stellerite specimens. I've seen some very beautiful, "cream" colored Stilbite "spheres" from this locality, but the Stellierite specimens are much better when it comes to quality. The majority of Stellerite found around the world is opaque, and rarely gemmy, let alone gem quality. This particular piece features excellent, lustrous, gemmy, colorless/white, "jelly"-like, sphere-shaped radiating aggregates and single "blades" of Stellerite measuring up to 13 mm on matrix. This is a great small cabinet size specimen of an uncommon Zeolite, especially since the largest "sphere" is well over 1 cm across. I have photographed some of the smaller crystals under the microscope to show their delicate detail. This specimen is from a fairly recent find in this historic quarry, and was one of the last pieces that Rich Kosnar acquired before he died.