Spodumene var. Kunzite. Oceanview Mine, Chief Mountain, Pala, Pala Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA. 16.0 ...

Description

Spodumene var. Kunzite
Oceanview Mine, Chief Mountain, Pala, Pala Mining District, San Diego County, California, USA
16.0 x 7.6 x 2.1 cm (6.30 x 3.0 x 0.82 in)

The C axis, or the axis in which one looks down when viewing a crystal "top-down" typically has the most intense color in a gem mineral, and is an important factor when determining quality. The color down the C axis of this Kunzite crystal in particular is spectacular. It is a perfect violet, biased even towards a bluish hue in some areas, and the thickness of the termination, at over 2 centimeters, gives much room to enjoy the color. The terminations surface itself is beautifully etched in the typical style of Kunzites, with an attractive mountainous form. Even the bottom of the piece is terminated as well, this time forming as a shimmering, spiky end. The sides of the arrow-shaped crystal are richly striated longitudinally, and the top half of the crystal is very clear, with a soft purple color. This size and quality from any Kunzite is desirable, but a crystal like this from the Oceanview Mine in Pala is especially valuable and highly sought-after. A mainstay of American mineral classics.

From The Edgehill Collection.

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