T06-123
Manganoan Adamite
San Judas Chimney (1981), Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Miniature, 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.1 cm
SOLD
This is from the famous find of 1981, long considered the most desirable for this rare varietal amongst the few times it has been found. They are simply unavailable on the market today, and showy miniatures such as this, with good color and also some aesthetic form, are jealously hoarded. I haven't even seen a one of this caliber for sale recently. This particular piece has intense, truly purple color and pleasing symmetry as the ribbon of crystals winds from the lower-left to the upper-right of the specimen. The luster is top percentile, glassy. The largest are 1.5 cm from base to tip. The combined effect of all those chiselled terminations coming out at you, presenting the best purple color and best orientation for getting that color at the viewer, makes it an unusual specimen. Normally the crystals are oriented up and so you see the lower white zones, and THEN the purple tips. Here, you see the purple first and it leaps out at you.