Diaspore (twinned)

T

3,384 for sale·Member since 2026

This is just a truly exceptional and large Diaspore twin from Turkey, as it is a sharp crystal that measures nearly three inches in almost every direction! The twin is textbook, and the two twin components are transparent across the terminal faces and silky translucent on the prism faces. The color varies from an attractive, rich green at the glassy terminations to an almost silvery to silky green on the prism faces. There are even hints of red in the shorter twin component! Usually it is almost impossible to see both colors in a large diaspore crystal, but in this one you can, as you move it in lights (particularly LED lighting). The piece is perhaps the best "small" example from a find of around 2018 that produced some genuine monsters to 1 kilo (the largest is in the Smithsonian, now); but most larger crystals were damaged, ratty, less colorful, less lustrous, or some combination of those. Many people consider this find to have produced best-of-species material, and it has not been equaled in such large crystals before or since. THIS crystal was picked by Paul as a consummate collector of quality in rare species, for its unique combination of condition and geometry with beauty. It is complete all around and without restoration. The prism faces are all striated to some extent from moderate to light on the broad faces to heavily striated and the narrower side faces. The terminal faces are mostly glassy like on the smaller twin component to only minor growth features at the termination of the larger one. Close inspection reveals zoning in both twin components. This is a large and exceptional Diaspore twin! Ex. Paul Stahl collection - 28880. 350 grams. At the time they came out, these were priced as if they were gem Diaspore, and these large crystals went quickly to top collectors and museums. This is the only one of this caliber we have seen turn up for resale in years.