Fluorapophyllite on Stilbite

Unknown Owner

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While apophyllite is common enough in principle, some specimens and pockets really far exceed the norm! This is a stunning, dramatic, colorful combination piece featuring sharp apophyllites with glassy luster an highly saturated color, perched atop and contrasting to stilbite crystals. It would be from old material, 1990s or early 2000s at latest, as Steve Smale amassed a huge, choice collection of Indian minerals. The crystals reach 5 cm, are terminated, and complete all around, as per any Smale specimen selected by him for quality above all else. It is a historic example of a style very different from what we see today, and has such saturated color that you can see it from across the room. Dr. Smale, who was 93 as of the time of this offering from his collection, is one of the leading collectors of the late 1900s and into today - pushing the edge of collecting for quality specimens forward with several books to his credit in minerals, as well as his numerous important publications in mathematics over the decades. He took particular pride in placing himself and his funds at the right place and time when production came out in each region, to assemble choice suites of quality specimens from emerging localities over the years, particularly since the 1970s, including Panasqueira, Brazil, Pakistan, China, and India.