LARGE SELENITE CRYSTAL. ...

Description

LARGE SELENITE CRYSTAL
"Cave of Swords", Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico
The recent discovery of a Mexican cavern lined with giant Selenite prisms the size of telephone poles was publicized widely by National Geographic. What is not commonly known is that this cave, dubbed "The Cueva de Los Cristales", is not the only one encountered by the workings of the Naica Mine of Chihuahua, Mexico. Many years before the latest discovery, the mine workings intersected what was called "The Cave of Swords". This cave was lined with smaller but otherwise similar crystals of Selenite: the transparent, crystalline form of Gypsum. Unlike the most recent discovery, the miners removed the Selenite and many ended up in museums and private collections. The "sword" featured here is typical for ones recovered during that earlier operation. It is about 3 ½ feet tall and shows the golden lateral inclusions that are characteristic of material from that find. The termination is a complex, distorted one instead of the more typical "fish-tail" one. Luster is also typical; halfway between glassy and satin. The interior is transparent in the colorless sections and warmly translucent in the golden areas. As is normal for crystals of this age and size; there is a certain amount of nicking and bruising, but overall the condition is very good. This "sword" stands ready and waiting to provide dramatic accents to an entrance or foyer. It measures an impressive 41 x 6 x 4 inches and comes with a massive custom acrylic base.

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