Name: Lazulite on Siderite
Brand: The Arkenstone
Price: 4500 USD
Availability: InStock

Lazulite on Siderite

At first glance, this is a similar style of lazulite with large crystals to what was seen more from the 1980s or early 1990s finds at Rapid Creek in the Yukon Territory; and this is a significant plate of lustrous, indigo-blue crystals of that old style, although with a bit of extra unusual luster and sparkle to the crystals. Why? Because this is NOT from Rapid Creek, but from a new locality found by Rod Tyson somewhere in the range nearby (Mount Seafoam, as he named it to me), on a final exploration trip up there. This new find has a subtly different style - obvious, in person - from previous discoveries. The crystals are glassier and the siderite is different. The display face is lined with equant, super lustrous, blocky, complex crystals that range from 3 mm to 1.5 cm across with sharp edges and faces, not to mention exquisite blue color. There are at least four dozen, fairly isolated indigo-blue crystals distributed across the specimen along with interspersed, 1 to 5 mm, brown siderite crystals for accent. A few are damaged, most are not. But remember, this is pulled from a remote mountain and hauled out by helicopter - limited tools available. The contrast between the lazulite and siderite makes for great contrast and composition. The display area is sparkling, glassy, and mostly pristine with minor contacting to two of the crystals that isn't readily apparent because of the uniform dark blue color. An excellent small cabinet piece of this species that is difficult to obtain these days. This sparkly and large matrix piece is exceptional for the species. It was self-collected by legendary Canadian field collector, Rod Tyson, on one of his multi week helicopter excursions into the Yukon. He sold it to me years ago (around 2018?) and I lost it for awhile...now found again. This was the best large specimen of his last discovery up there (a single pocket found in 2016 (per Rod), and this piece should be among richest and largest of species overall. Rod sold me a few treasures from his collection, just significant pieces I had to buy; and these kinds of things simply are not on the market anymore; as well as that he was the source for most. This was one he had kept when selling others, and had it valued at $4500 even at the time he sold it to me in 2017 (I promptly misplaced part of the collection stash, and found them again recently, or they would be long gone! See also his messelite, in this same update).

$4,500.00