TUC10-44
Anhydrite
St Gotthard tunnel, NEAT Construction site, Amsteg, Reuss Valley, Uri, Switzerland
Miniature, 4.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm
SOLD
This specimen was one I acquired on a recent trip to Germany, from a collection. It was removed during the famous construction of the NEAT tunnel in St. Gotthard pass, and is a beautiful, totally gemmy and transparent, floater crystal cluster of anhydrite. This is similar to classic material first known in the 1800s, but seldom seen on the market. This tunnelling project hit a few pockets of large crystals, now highly treasured, of this rare Alpine classic. This particular crystal is large and robust, complete all around, and attractive due to its gemminess and the sparkling chlorite on some surfaces. In person, it has a pale lavender color, typical of the locality. Superb for size, aesthetics, and importance, I regard this as a highly significant Alpine specimen of some rarity