Specimen #506

Name: Lepidolite on Quartz

Type: Mineral

Locality: Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Favorite? N

Fluorescent? N

Size: 11.1 x 6.0 x 4.4 cm.

Weight: 215

Acquired: 2007-10-04

Source: Arkenstone: Rob Lavinsky

Label: Y

Comment: NEW FROM DENVER - LEPIDOLITE! Specimen-grade finds of Lepidolite from two very different places, both in such bizarre styles and form I was honestly surprised to see them! In particular, the Brazilian find here sets a new standard and a novel color for the species as a mineral worth adding to display-quality collections! Frankly I was SHOCKED when I found these were lepidolite...they are unlike anything I have ever seen for the species in color and beauty, reminding me more of top grade South African brucite-on-steroids than of plain old lepidolite. These crystals are actually translucent, and probably could cut some milky gemstones! The color is like nothing I have seen in the species before. We hit this find early and picked through literally a tonne of it with several sources, before what seems to have been a realization by the importers that they sell better as smaller pieces with cumulatively more value....and thus I have not seen many large plates of this quality. There are much larger pieces, to two feet across even, but not with such consistent quality and color, lack of damage, and aesthetic arrangement for the collector. The bigger ones tended to be decorative clunkers, not specimens. For that matter, the quality really spans a large spectrum , in all sizes, and we tried to pick only really special pieces, with best color and condition. One of the most beautiful pieces of the lot, this really bright and translucent lepidolite (to 1 cm) drapes one side of a quartz shard (which has been broken and rehealed on all sides). It is transparent throughout, and very attractive when backlit. The color here is outstanding!

Minerals: Lepidolite (K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂) Quartz (SiO₂)

There are 2 pictures on file

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M00506-02.jpg:

Lepidolite on Quartz, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil - 11.1 x 6.0 x 4.4 mm