Prehnite with Quartz and Phenakite - image 1
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Prehnite with Quartz and Phenakite

Unknown Owner
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This is a gorgeous combination and competitive thumbnail-sized specimen of Prehnite from the Goboboseb Mountains of Namibia; and it comes from Charlie Key's private collection. Charlie was a legendary dealer, and specialist in Namibian minerals as well as prehnite in particular. This colorful and aesthetic little wonder features a translucent, bright apple-green, composite bundle of Prehnite crystals accented by a few faintly amethystine Quartz crystals; and the real prize is a single, well-formed, translucent, off-white, twinned Phenakite crystal on the side of the Prehnite! The Prehnite aggregate measures 3.1 cm in length and is a tight, sheaf-like bundle composed of dozens of thin, tabular crystals in parallel growth. There is a slight "waist" to the bundle making it almost bow-tie in appearance. The trio of clear, amethystine Quartz crystals are in random orientation at the base of the Prehnite and range in size from 1.3 to 2.5 cm in length. The amazing contributor to this piece is the standalone, twinned, 1 cm, perfectly formed, cloudy to translucent and very lustrous Phenakite crystal. To our knowledge, Phenakite has not been reported from the crystal lined amygdules from the ancient lava flows in this area.

Product details

SizeMiniature
Dimensions3.1 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm
Added on12/02/2024

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2024Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
The ArkenstoneNot disclosed

Learn more

Quartz
Mineral guide
Learn about Quartz
a versatile mineral with clear, milky, and colored varieties; crystal forms, formation clues, and tips for identifying amethyst and citrine.
Quartz
Regional guide
Quartz from Goboboseb Mountains, Namibia
from Goboboseb Mountains, Namibia — glassy color-zoned crystals with amethyst and smoky zones, plus phantoms and fluid inclusions prized by collectors.