SOLD
T08-75
Spinel
Gon Deposit, near Timpton River, Lena River Valley, Aldan, Aldan Shield, (Eastern Siberian, Russia
Thumbnail, 2.6 x 2.4 x 2.3 cm
SOLD
This equant, sharp spinel crystal is free of damage, measuring 2.25 cm in each dimension, and beautifully terminated. It is totally complete except for a few minor contacts of attached matrix on back, and floats freestanding on a pedestal of natural matrix! It has a rich "satiny" luster, characteristic of pocket-growth crystals that have never been covered by other rock, or calcite infill which has to be removed with acid. This locality historically produced spinels of this caliber, but I had never seen one of such size and in any case they came out 20 years and more ago. This new find at the same old locale has provided us a small new supply of these spinel classics. What is nice, though, is that the overall quality for this combination of size and crystal habit of spinel has not been surpassed in the meantime - they stand as important spinels, not just as interesting locality classics, in other words.