Aquamarine on Albite

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So many aquas occur on boring ol' rock matrix...to get them to stick on crystallized matrix, and standing upright, has always been a challenge for Mother Nature. This stunning, unrepaired aquamarine specimen is one of the finest in its size class and style, in my own opinion. It is not just a "big flashy aqua" with size and color...its got a unique 3-dimensionality to it, that stands out even in a small crowd at the top of the big-$$$, aquamarine matrix specimen pecking order. The piece is dramatic, for the way the starkly contrasting crystallized albite matrix serves as host to a literal spray of crystals. Amazingly, it is NOT repaired. There are 2 little dings atop, but they are trivial. And, no repairs! This is almost unheard of for such a large, exposed, aquamarine matrix specimen. Each crystal has a slightly different modification on the termination, so all are distinct, in a small way, in style. All are very blue and gemmy, with internal phantoms of medium opacity running up halfway through the 3 larger crystals. This is a characteristic of a famous pocket found in late 2005 and brought to market in 2006, a pocket that I think will stand the test of time for its uniqueness in three factors: crystal quality and color; the unusual internal phantoms; matrix aesthetics; and the fact that the albite matrix is crystallized nicely. I acquired the specimen by exchange recently, from the Marc Weill collection. (as illust. in the Mineralogical Record supplement issue, Jan-Feb 2008). This is an Iconic mineral specimen in every sense, memorable among a huge crowd of good things on the market, and should becaome one of the key pieces in a collection. Note that the 3 photos in my hand show the true color under "normal" lighting. Comes with custom lucite base. (illust. in Mineralogical Record supplement, Jan-Feb 2008) (illust. COVER OF ROCK & GEM, May 2009)