Xenotime-(Y) (superb thumbnail)

Item Description

Good crystals of Xenotime are rarely seen on the market these days, especially pieces like this with such large and colorful crystals! This is a killer thumbnail specimen from the famous Zagi Mountain locality near Peshawar, Pakistan featuring a group of very sharp, well-formed, translucent, beautiful golden-orange colored prismatic tetragonal crystals, free of matrix. Keep in mind that most REE species can be dark and drab, but this piece is COLORFUL and gemmy to boot! The piece is in great shape overall with no damage on the front / display side, but a little roughness on the back where it was attached to the pocket wall, or possibly another Xenotime crystal. Since the late 1990s, Zagi Mountain has been the source of some of the most unique and interesting minerals from any locality in Pakistan. It is not your typical producer of minerals like beryl or tourmaline, but rather a source of rare-earth element bearing species found in "Alpine-type" veins in an alkaline granite gneiss host rock. Xenotime-(Y) is certainly of the most sought after minerals from this locality, and pieces of this size, quality and overall displayability are ridiculously hard to find on the market. This piece was mined in 2007. A must-have piece for any fan of rare minerals or thumbnails. Priced in the inventory at $2,800.