Tanzanite (illustrated). - Nov 08, 2014 | Dan Morphy Auctions In Pa
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Tanzanite (Illustrated).

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Tanzanite (Illustrated).
Tanzanite (Illustrated).
Item Details
Description
Locality: Merelani Hills, near Arusha, Umba Valley, Tanzania. Size Class: Small Cabinet. Collection: F. John Barlow Collection and Irv Brown Collection. In 1998, noted collector F. John Barlow of Wisconsin published the first great private mineral collection book of the modern era, on his 50-year collection of 6000 pieces. This large format hardcover book ran to 400 pages and involved numerous guest editors with specialties in the field. For Africa, the author/editor was Charlie Key, widely known as one of the most experienced dealers of African material in the past (and who signed his initials to the text on this piece). Although most chapters have themes of species or locality , Chapter 3 was simply dedicated to Barlow's favorite worldwide specimens out of his 6000 pieces, and features this matrix tanzanite prominently. As Charlie relates about the specimen: " The usual litany of superlatives fails to convey the jolt that even jaded collectors of superb minerals receive when they first lay eyes on this specimen. Clearly this matrix specimen grew unimpeded in a vug (pocket), which is most unusual as the vast majority of tanzanites are imbedded completely in matrix." The two major crystals are brilliantly lustrous, like glass, with the smoothest surfaces and no pitting. They are arranged in a geometric arrangement to complement each other and show off their terminations. The matrix is graphite, in sparkling small crystals, which is unusual and almost unique. A few other small carbonates are present, showing that the specimen could not have been etched out of calcite as are so many other tanzanites. Charlie, who is also an expert in the gem trade (and in fact started the "London Blue Topaz" treatments), goes on to add that there is intrinsic gemstone cutting value in the crystals, and provide full details of the source including the miner and middleman. In person, this crystal cluster is somewhat dark. With a little backlighting, it glows. Because the crystals are oriented differently, the backlighting shows all colors of the tanzanite at one time, in some parts of the crystals: purple, blue, and the elusive natural red/violet color. This is a completely natural crystal, without the typical heat treatment. This has been in the private mineral collection of Irv Brown since the Barlow collection was broken up in around 2000, and then in another private collection from whom we have it on consignment to offer publicly for the first time in the 30 years since it was mined. Size 6.2 x 6.2 x 3.5
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Tanzanite (Illustrated).

Estimate $50,000 - $60,000
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Starting Price $13,000

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Dan Morphy Auctions

Dan Morphy Auctions

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