Erythrite "pocket" with Quartz - image 1

Erythrite "pocket" with Quartz - image 3

Erythrite "pocket" with Quartz

Unknown Owner

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This cabinet-sized erythrite "geode" or "pocket piece" has dozens of brilliant magenta crystals on the interior to 1.2 cm in length densely covering the interior. These intensely colored, translucent crystals are sharply formed blades and bladed aggregates with excellent steep terminations. A few of the smaller erythrite crystals on the piece are actually gemmy with a slightly brighter magenta color. This erythrite "geode" certainly stands out from the majority of pieces from finds at the Aghbar Mine, which is the only contemporary source for great examples of the species. The dark gray matrix is more or less U-shaped with milky quartz at the center at one end that becomes drusy quartz on the interior and the erythrite crystals grew on that subsequently. There are numerous subhedral to anhedral specs, blebs and veinlets of erythrite throughout the gray matrix. Small round clusters of another mineral are also present (possibly cobalt-rich calcite or talmessite?). This piece is probably from finds of 2001-2003 and was sold to Jack by dealer Cal Graeber. It is notable for the preservation of a pocket like this, and the matrix is a skutterudite ore, very heavy and hefty.