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Mineral Specimens with Spodumene
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11.0 x 9.7 x 6.4 cm. A large specimen with two kunzite crystals, both terminated on the end. The larger, chunky one measures 4.5 cm and is 1.7 cm thick. The other measures 2.5 cm, with less color but nicely transparent. A good example of this modern classic on matrix.
8.6 x 7.7 x 6.7 cm. This is a beautiful matrix specimen hosting a doubly-terminated 8 x 3 x 2 cm kunzite crystal, perched snugly in cleavelandite matrix. What impresses me is not so much the color (which is quite nice) , but the display of the crystal so both gemmy terminations show; and the incredible sharp termination on one end which has faces showing none of the usual etching and dissolution effects one expects to see in most large kunzite crystals (from any locality). Rather, the termination is sharp, defined, and textbook in symmetry. Ex. Rolf Wein Collection.
11.4 x 2.9 x 1.2 cm. A very gemmy jagged and sculptural crystal of kunzite, with fine lilac color and highly lustrous faces. It has the usual naturally rough terminations, complete except for a couple of the little sub-peaks. Sizeable and dramatic in form, in addition to superb gemminess. Ex. Wayne Thompson Collection.
A truly outstanding thumbnail of electric green Hiddenite, which is spodumene with a rich green color caused specifically by chromium content. Green spodumene from other localities doesn't cut it - THIS is the best and almost the only legitimate hiddenite, in my book! These specimens were cherrypicked from an amazing find of such crystals last year, the best such find in modern times. This one is doubly-terminated and has the best green color. 2.7 x 0.5 x 0.4 cm
A truly outstanding MINIATURE of electric green Hiddenite, which is spodumene with a rich green color caused specifically by chromium content. Green spodumene from other localities doesn't cut it - THIS is the best and almost the only legitimate hiddenite, in my book! LARGE SPECIMENS ARE ALMOST UNHEARD OF. I HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN A MINIATURE FOR SALE BEFORE! Relative to the asking prices by the collector for his thumbnails, frankly this one was and remains a "steal." It is truly an amazing American specimen but more importantly it is a significant example of a rare GEMSTONE in unusually large form, that could not be matched from any other locality. It thus has a significance beyond its origins in the wider lore of gem crystals. These specimens were cherrypicked from an amazing find of such crystals last year, the best such find in modern times. This one is doubly-terminated and has the best green color in the top termination (the one I regard as top, because of its steeper, less etched termination) grading to a lighter green at the lower termination. BETTER IN PERSON! 5 x 0.7 x 0.6 cm
12.5 x 8.5 x 3 cm. This 405-gram floater spodumene crystal is superb from any locality, but it happens to be the single best and largest example I saw from a small lot imported in 2003 out of Mozambique. It is complete all around: almost totally transparent - and the rest is translucent anyhow.
7.9 x 2.7 x 1.1 cm. A pristine, doubly terminated, very gemmy and lustrous, pastel-pink kunzite crystal from the much less well-known San Pedro Mine on Hiriart Mt., San Diego County, California. This is a very glassy old-timer, with more vivid pink color looking down the C-axis. The specimen, dating prior to World War II, is from the John Grieger Collection, a well-known California dealer and collector. 40 grams.
14.2 x 9.2 x 3.0 cm. A large, 660-gram single, sharply terminated crystal of spodumene from this classic old locality circa mid-1800s. They were considered very important at the time, and these crystals were considered highly important and sold or traded into all major museums. Owning one of these would be a goal to assemble any major collection of the time, of important US minerals. This location was first documented by Edward Hitchcock in 1833 (Report on the Geology, Mineralogy, Botany and Zoology of Massachusetts), and the first location to yield crystallography on the species (1879). The quarry was last operated by B. K Emerson of Amherst College, and Frank Nason (Nasonite) operated the location in 1885. This is when the majority of the old specimens were recovered. For the size of this crystal, this is really good. Ex. Ken Hollman Collection. Thanks to Jim Chenard for this footnote: A funny note on this area was with regards to the early Professor Emerson, who wrote the Mineralogical Lexicon of Hampshire, Hampden Counties in Mass. His journal well documents the Walnut Hill location, and always used taverns as landmarks. His writing got worse during the day, and he would frequently come back to Amherst on foot, since he would forget where his horse was. This is an old location.
BRIGHT PINK freeform floater crystal of kunzite, with gorgeous sparkle and internal brightness to it! Large kunzites of this quality are uncommon from Brazil. weight = 208 grams! 10.7 x 4 x 3.5 cm
A gorgeous combination specimen featuring a lilac-pink GEM kunzite crystal, measuring 5 x 2.5 x 1 cm in size, rising majestically from a matrix of the snowiest white blades of Cleavelandite you've ever seen. Aside from the fact that the kunzite is about the most gorgeous rich color you could ask for, the contrast is simply striking and it is more dramatic in person. 12.9 x 10.5 x 5.3 cm
4.6 x 2.8 x 2.1 cm. Superb, textbook biotite crystals mark this classic from an old find (1960s if I recall correctly, or maybe the 50s), at the site of the famous hiddenite mines. This crystal is superbly displayed on matrix, a small miniature overall.
17.4 x 3.3 x 2.4 cm. A huge, bi-colored, large cabinet spodumene crystal from the Mawi Pegmatite of Afghanistan. This beautiful, gemmy and lustrous piece is a fascinating combination of both kunzite pink and pastel-green. The crystal is complete-all-around and pristine. The C-axis, termination shot, highlights the vivid lavender color saturation. Weighs 245 grams.
1.5 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm. A rare, gemmy and lustrous, vivid lavender kunzite crystal from Jos, Nigeria. This piece is a complete all-around floater crystal. One termination is like a knife blade, while the other modified pinacoid. Ex. Irv Brown Collection. Weighs 13.72 carats.
23.3 x 6.7 x 3.7 cm. This is a fine, nearly 9-inch crystal of really pleasant green spodumene. It is not pale, as so many. Not only is the crystal large, gemmy, and complete, but it has superb terminations of a quality and sharpness rarely seen in this species. Large crystals of spodumene from here tend to etch out and dissolve in solution a bit after forming. Crystals of this size with such sharpness retained are rare. The piece is very aesthetic in part because the crystal rises up from a single white crystal of feldspar at its base. This was mined early in 2009.
9.0 x 4.9 x 4.1 cm. This specimen is unusual in several ways. Unlike most spodumenes from here and any other locality, which form mostly as singles, this is a cluster. And, it is a robust cluster with 3-dimensional crystals showing sharp terminations, instead of the typical arrangement when you do (seldom) find clusters in which they are most often jumbly messes. Also, the association with embedded muscovite rosettes is unusual. The muscovites are often associated with aquamarine, but not with spodumene. Ex. Dr. Gene Meieran Collection.
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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share specimen![Spodumene (Var: Kunzite), Quartz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Nuristan Province (Nurestan; Nooristan), Afghanistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-205682a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-205682a.jpg)
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![Spodumene (Var: Kunzite) from San Pedro Mine (Pedro), Hiriart Mountain (Heriart; Heriot; Hiriat Hill), Pala District, San Diego Co., California, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-219086b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-219086b.jpg)
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