Helvite on Microcline with Quartz - Tongbei, Fujian, China

Helvite on Microcline with Quartz - image 1

Helvite on Microcline with Quartz - image 2

Helvite on Microcline with Quartz - image 3

Helvite on Microcline with Quartz - image 4

Helvite on Microcline with Quartz

$2,750.00

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This is a very fine specimen with balance and significance for the species, from a small find of around 2008 at my friend's mine in China. A matrix of ivory colored microcline, in crystals to 1.5 cm in length, hosts the helvite and associated species. On the microcline are drusy muscovite crystals, and glassy and gemmy, smoky quartz crystals to 2.3 cm in length, along with a few superb, lustrous and translucent, amber colored helvite crystals, to 1.6 cm in length. I consider these isolated, idiomorphic textbook-shaped Tongbei helvites to be far superior for my own taste, than the usually jumbly clusters from Inner Mongolia. In any case, China has produced two of the world's best helvite localities for this species, both spectacular - but specimens from this smaller and older find are certainly more rare now on the market. I bought my lot from a relation to a mine owner, and direct. I have not seen comparable for sale except rarely, in the years since.