Babingtonite with Prehnite on Quartz - image 1

Babingtonite with Prehnite on Quartz - image 3

Babingtonite with Prehnite on Quartz - image 4

Babingtonite with Prehnite on Quartz

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

This very refined combination specimen is from the important Babingtonite finds of the early 2000s (about 2004-2010) at Qiaojia, Yunnan Province, and features a classic combination of Babingtonite (two generations), Prehnite and Quartz. Steve Smale acquired this in China in 2007 and has held it, since, until exchanging to us. The piece is unusually balanced and has Babingtonite of a world-class level of quality that put these finds on the international map as best of species material. The plate of Quartz crystals serves as the sparkling host matrix for the piece, with Babingtonites growing along the underside; and the larger crystals, up to 2.4 cm, forming a SUPERB cluster hanging along one side and fully presented to the viewer. The cluster is complete all around, as well! These jet-black Babingtonite crystals are subtly striated, have the high luster that helps make the species so attractive from this location. Many of the crystals have exceptional, mirror-like terminations. The pastel-green, botryoidal Prehnite is excellent quality as well, being translucent and having very good luster along the surface. This Chinese locality has produced some of the finest Babingtonites in the world. While material is still occasionally found, the best was in the past now. This aesthetic and significant piece was in the well known and extensive China sub-collection of Steven Smale.