Name: Hedenbergite ps. Ilvaite
Brand: The Arkenstone
Price: 3250 USD
Availability: InStock

Hedenbergite ps. Ilvaite

Ilvaites from the great Dalnegorsk mines are but one of the many first-rate mineral species from this renowned locality, and their pseudomorphs like this one are unique and interesting! This small cabinet piece consists of several large (especially for Dalnegorsk), parallel growth former ilvaite crystals to 7 cm in length that have been completely replaced by hedenbergite. The ilvaite shapes have been amazingly and faithfully preserved. The color is a very dark olive green with a matte luster. Most of the pristine, super lustrous ilvaite crystals that Dalnegorsk is known for have a distinct high luster and are generally much smaller than these pseudomorphs. Most such oddities, like this piece, came out in 1980s-early 1990s. Ex. Ken Roberts' personal collection of pseudomorphs (Ken was a major dealer in the day and a field collector as well, for which he was recently honored). Illustrated in Collecting Pseudomorphs: The Changelings of Mineralogy (Mineralogical Record, Jan 2025) on page 106. Also illustrated in ExtraLapis #43: Pseudomorphs. Awarded Tucson Gem and Mineral Show's best in show Paul Desautels Trophy case (2009). Comes with a custom lucite display base. Laszlo Kupi photo.

$3,250.00