Orthoclase (Gem Variety Of Feldspar) - Mined Circa 1900 - image 1

Orthoclase (Gem Variety Of Feldspar) - Mined Circa 1900

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This is a superb, unusually large and intensely colored gem crystal of feldspar. Feldspar, a common "rock-former" mineral species, seldom forms crystals of truly gem quality. This famous old locality is one of the few exceptions to the rule. The intense yellow to straw yellow orthoclase feldspars from here DO generally exhibit this luster, clarity, and pizzazz. However, most are small, rounded, and just not significant in a general sense. This is a monster for the locality, 181 grams in mass, and complete (or near enough) on the display faces. As with most crystals from the locale, it is contacted on back. There is some minor edge wear and a little bit of more serious damage to the edges near the base of the piece (as shown), but overall it is an important piece in very displayable form. And given the context, the slight wear is acceptable to me in order to get such a significant and unusual specimen. This was long in the collection of Richard Kosnar of Colorado, who apparently got it from an old museum collection. It was said to have been found circa 1900. Note it is both lustrous and gemmy, so the combination of photos should show you its brightness and, by inference from the zones where you do see through it, how gemmy it is - but it IS better in person. Comes with custom lucite display base