Benitoite and Neptunite

Benitoite is well known as one of the most interesting minerals because of its triangular crystals, blue color, and value for gemstones. Also, it is fascinating because it contains titanium and is a true oddity in earth's crust, with this one unique deposit thought to have been pushed up by a freak event from the mantle boundary, hence its unique chemistry. Large specimens of ANY quality are rare... and have been since the 1930s when it was first worked by skilled collectors (see Bancroft, 1986). Large plates with excellent crystals, large crystals, and strong blue color... those remain and always were rare. This piece passed into the Erika Pohl collection and away from sight for decades, and it is an honor to bring it out again to the market. It features 11 good crystals to 2.8 cm in size, and a broken tipped crystal that clearly has some gem rough within, off on a peripheral edge. The accent of the neptunite is a nice bonus. Old material! I believe this was at one time the piece known from the Ed David collection, with the number peeled off the bottom (not 100 percent sure, but I do think it was Ed's before it got to her through another dealer, for a variety of reasons). This might be the last time in a generation we see for sale such an important large plate like this, with so many large crystals. Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher - 89914

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Neptunite, Benitoite

SizeCabinet

Dimensions10.3 x 9.5 x 3.0 cm

Locality

USA, California, California State Gem Mine

Added on10/23/2024

Comments

Known provenance

Unknown date