Hedenbergite on Calcite

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This is just a killer, competition-level, doubly-terminated Hedenbergite crystal on Calcite from the Tormiq Valley in Pakistan. Hedenbergite is a Clinopyroxene of the Pyroxene Group and is a calcium-iron silicate. It's a relatively common rock-forming mineral, however, rarely does it occur in crystals this good! This one is textbook and absolutely incredible with its high luster, opaque black color and almost zig-zag, stepped prismatic crystal growth form. Faces, edges and both terminations are super sharp. The crystal sits on subhedral, off-white Calcite crystals to 1.5 cm for perfect contrast. This is definitely the best Hedenbergite specimen in this size class that we have ever seen and it is hard to say enough superlatives about this specimen of a mineral that I would normally dismiss as "reference level" specimens! It is a large miniature specimen, of competitive quality. This came out through Andreas Weerth, a direct source who travelled frequently to Pakistan, in 1992. Ex. Paul Stahl collection - 28954.