Kyanite from Sponda Alp - Pizzo Forno, Ticino, Switzerland

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A European classic the like of which all famous world mineral museums feature. Prior to the discovery of the 'new' worlds of South America and Africa, Pizzo Forno in the Swiss Alps was the top locality for fine blue Kyanite crystals and well-formed untwinned Staurolites. This wonderful larger display specimen from Sponda Alp - Pizzo Forno was collected more recently - in the 1970s - but has all of the classic features, of long, pale blue colour-zoned bladed Kyanite crystals and dark brown glossy prismatic Staurolite crystals within a paler matrix associated with mica-schist. The Kyanite crystals reach 7.8 cm in length and the Staurolite 2.9 cm. A such iconic, instantly recognizable assemblage of minerals and matrix. Ex Nick Hawes collection and ex Wolfgang Hofmeister.