Phenakite with Smoky Quartz

$15,000.00

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Ships from USA

T

The ArkenstoneFeatured

3,403 for sale·Member since 2026

A tall, elegant crystal of phenakite with fancy form, subtle and complex growth faces that make it sparkle, and with a shocking size and shape for a USA-origin specimen of this species. The crystal is undamaged and doubly-terminated! The form and style of these crystals make it immediately distinct from those from Burma or Madagascar, or even Brazil. We have only handled three crystals from this pocket - they are super rare. Collected by Ralph Booth in 2013, this is said to be one of the finest (perhaps the finest!) crystal from a small pocket of remarkable crystals of the gem species phenakite, which is not known in such high quality from Montana. It is a gorgeous miniature that can stand proudly with any fancy gem crystal species. Smoky quartz makes a nice accent. When we bought George Loud's collection of 7000-plus specimens in 2022, this was in my top 50 favorites picked for later sale. He noted that he saw the entire pocket with well-known collector Bryant Harris (in Tucson), and bought this in February of 2016. (Bryant was notoriously quiet in his retirement to Tucson, but still met with some old friends and collectors, and occasionally let something go.)