EXCEEDINGLY LARGE & FINE AQUAMARINE CRYSTAL. ...

Description

EXCEEDINGLY LARGE & FINE AQUAMARINE CRYSTAL
Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
As a source area for exotic gem materials, you can't get more "interesting" than the Northern Areas of Pakistan. In addition to chronically angry tribal groups, there is always the spectre of: bad weather; bad water; avalanches of snow, rock and ice; and the occasional hail of bullets. Nevertheless, for mineral seekers, it doesn't get any better than here. The exceptionally large and exquisitely formed gem crystals found here are why. This huge hexagonal pillar is the color of old glacial ice: a cool blue halfway between powder blue and turquoise. Numerous areas of the crystal are transparent enough to be facetted. Other areas have veil type inclusions that look like wisps of smoke drifting through this limpid prism. There are traces of the original Feldspar matrix on the bottom of this hefty monster, while the top displays a single lustrous planar termination. The back side shows signs of concurrent growth with other giant crystals that are no longer present. Other than very minor nicking of some edges the overall condition is superb, particularly for a specimen of this size. This museum size specimen measures an impressive 9 ¾ inches high by 4 inches across, without its base. Accompanied by a custom labeled acrylic base.

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