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Amethyst Geode.
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Description
Locality: Artigas, Uraguay. Size Class: Very Large Cabinet. Collection: Private. These large amethysts (purple quartz) form deep in the earth of a volcanic deposit of basalt, in southern Brazil and into Uruguay, over millions of years of time. The lava flows form bubbles as they flow and cool, and sometimes these bubbles are stable and do not collapse. They get preserved and buried beneath later layers. After a tens of millions of years, the components of these minerals drip down by precipitation from accumulated layers above and bring the elements needed to form amethyst (water, silicon, and trace iron for the purple color), they penetrate the porous basalt rock, and eventually form these beautiful specimens with crystals inside the former lava tubes and bubbles. Most people have seen the traditional, common, "amethyst cathedrals" which are elongated bubbles or tubes, cut inhalf and stood upright. Much more uncommonly, miners have found pieces like this - a connected series of bubbles and tubes, with more depth and three-dimensionality. In person, this piece is richly colorful, with more sparkle than the photo can convey. It is a large specimen which weighs somewhere over 150 pounds. In remarkably good condition and without repair! On consignment from a private museum. Size 70.0 x 46.0 x 39.0 cm
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Amethyst Geode.
Estimate $15,000 - $18,000
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