Phenakite on Quartz

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Phenakite is an rarely seen gem mineral, partly due to its physical rarity, but also due to it not being recognized - hence its name meaning "deceiver". Stiepelmann mine, near Klein Spitzkopje, Erongo Region was the first Namibia locality noted, and once seen, the crystals from their are superb. This smaller miniature-sized specimen from Stiepelmann mine from David Hardman's collection is a really high quality piece, but admittedly on the smaller size. It features a small aggregate of parallel, doubly-terminated Quartz crystals, dominated by a pyramidally terminated prism, which has a glassy, colourless, rhombic prism of Phenakite perched near to the summit of the largest Quartz crystal. The Phenakite crystal might only reach 3.5 x 3 mm in size, but it is extremely well-formed and a really wonderful example of this rare gem species. A choice Namibian Phenakite miniature.