Spinel on Calcite

Unknown Owner

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Matrix specimens of spinel are uncommon, and really good quality crystals on matrix like this one from Myanmar (Burma) are difficult to find. This piece hosts a classic Burmese "ruby spinel" crystal with sharp, lustrous, octahedral faces and a gemmy to translucent, bright red-pink color sitting atop a contrasting, snow-white calcite (marble) matrix as is typical for this locality. The crystal has well-developed faces and edges, measuring 2.5 cm on the longest edge. The spinel is glassy with subtle growth hillocks on the surface of the faces and displays a lovely, saturated red-pink color. The crystal is two-thirds complete with the remainder of the crystal intergrown with the calcite underneath and the back corner has a one centimeter hollowed out area where it was undoubtedly intergrown with some calcite. This back corner is also slightly contacted. It is a very fine and well-composed piece for the material, and likely came out in the early 2000s. Ex. Paul Stahl collection.