Willemite

Unknown Owner

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Tsumeb actually produced some of the world's best willemites, found in different crystal habits and also in hues of brown, yellow, and even blue - but they were rare and seldom seen, lost among a crowd of more common species. This sparkling specimen is a relatively rare, full-sized thumbnail example from a single pocket of the 1980s, known for GEM willemite crystals of this sparkling, champagne color. Some were even cut into gemstones for collectors by Mark Kaufman. Specimens are rare and seldom seen today. The cluster of solid willemite plate is complete on both sides and all around, a floater in principle, although there might be one tiny contact on one face. It has sharp crystals to a few millimeters that must be in the hundreds, and together combine to make for a champagne-colored gemmy snowman in shape. The whole piece is completely translucent to transparent! We have had thumbnails and about half a dozen specimens of this material over the years, with colors ranging from brown to amber in hue. This is as bright and shiny as it gets, with the best and most pretty color. Laszlo Kupi photo.