Anatase from Selva, Grisons, Switzerland

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Choice old Alpine classic, this a cluster of colorless gemmy crystals of quartz hosting blue crystals of anatase measuring to 0.4 cm in size. Minimal damage present, I think in good condition. This is somewhat reminiscent of Norwegian material, I believe that these are much more rare. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. This label gives an original acquisition date of 1913. The specimen was acquired from American dealer Lazard Cahn. Selva, located in the Tujetsch region of the Vorderrhein Valley in Graubunden, Switzerland, is a renowned Alpine-cleft locality situated within the Aar Massif. Geologically, the site is characterized by the presence of Hercynian-aged central granite and gneiss that underwent significant tectonic deformation during the Alpine orogeny, creating hydrothermal pockets filled with high-quality mineral specimens. The locality is particularly famous for its anatase, a titanium dioxide polymorph, which occurs as sharp, lustrous, indigo-blue to black bipyramidal crystals often found on a matrix of chlorite-coated quartz or adularia. Historically, the area has been worked for centuries by traditional Swiss crystal seekers, known as strahlers, rather than through large-scale industrial mining or quarrying operations. While small-scale extraction for scientific and collector purposes has been documented since the 1800s, the most significant finds occurred during the mid-to-late 20th century as accessibility to the steep slopes of the Val Giuv and Val Strem improved. Today, the region around Selva remains a strictly regulated and highly protected area for mineral collecting, continuing to serve as a premier source for world-class anatase crystals through 2026.