Spodumene - dichroic, bi-color crystal
stock #7.AE-304
Pech, Chapa Dara District
Kunar Province,
Afghanistan
9.1 x 5.3 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $550
Worldwide mix summer
A big, well terminated, pale but very clear gem crystal of Spodumene. The crystal is strongly dichroic and if rotated in front of a computer monitor the color changes from violet to a mint green. This was collected more than 15 years ago, this is not like the more recent finds. Very good condition, the color is a bit deeper than seen in the photos.
Spodumene var. Kunzite
stock #AX-12-603
Darra-I Pech Pegmatite Field
Konar Province,
Afghanistan
11.1 x 7.3 x 9.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $480
Post Tucson 2015
An older, sizable matrix specimen of light blueish Cleavelandite hosts a 5.8 cm Kunzite crystal sharply terminated with good color and zoning. Associated are Quartz crystals to over 3 CM and a few scattered Elbaite and Schorl are noted too. The esthetics are quite nice while the Kunzite is nicely etched and in fine undamaged condition. Some chipping and bruises are seen on the Quartz which keeps the price quite low but this still displays nicely.
Konar Province,
Afghanistan
6.8 x 3.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
A very clean pink to green Kunzite (Spodumene) with great form and good pastel colors. Ex John Marshall Collection (with labels). From finds in the early 80's in Kunar this age ensures that the colors you see are stable and will not fade. Bi-colored Spods are rare and they are clearly not irradiated or faked either. In good condition and mostly gem clear inside, a good gem crystal that will not break the bank.
Triphane (Spodumene) Large Gem crystal
stock #7.AE-305
Khauraz
Laghman Province,
Afghanistan
33.8CM X 4.6CM X 2.6 CM Thick (cabinet /museum)
price: $4500
A HUGE and impressive monster that is doubly terminated, top gem grade yellow triphane. Sharp, glassy luster and damage-free with only some tiny bits of matrix adhering to the main prism which is over a foot long! One end has the classic hackley/fibrous termination while the other shows a staggered pair of prismatic tips with some fine growth hillocks. This crystal like all fine gem Spodumene is highly dichroic and shows an excellent orange-pink transition on the C axis. The piece has been in a private collection for several years and the color (unlike many) is quite stable. Good Triphane has never been plentiful. This one seems to have been from the major find of 99-2000 and I have not seen much new material available over the past few years, and none as large and fine as this. I consider this a very fine display piece that is both reasonably priced and will likely have outstanding investment value.
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