LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 January Signature Natural History #5000  / 

48263

Exceptionally Large Morganite Beryl

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Rocks, Fossils & Minerals Start Price:11,000.00 USD Estimated At:14,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
Exceptionally Large Morganite Beryl
<B>EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE MORGANITE BERYL</B></I><BR> <I>Minas Gerais, Brazil</B></I><BR>Beryl: (Be3Al2Si6O18) is the parent to all of the different varieties of beryl, just like GM is the parent to Cadillac, Pontiac and the like. Due to its molecular architecture beryl has available space for a limited number and type of foreign atoms within that structure. What those atoms are and how many there are determines which variety you get. Morganite, named for J.P. Morgan in a fit of shameless bootlicking by George Kunz of American Museum of Natural History and Tiffany & Co. fame, is the pink to rose tinted variety colored by visiting cesium atoms. Normal sizes for Morganite rarely get past fist size; a small fist at that. This section of a giant crystal is in the top 1% of crystals known, for size and depth of color. It is highly likely that the broken surface on one side represents the attachment point between this crystal and the wall of the 'pocket' it grew in since miners do not gratuitously damage what they know is a valuable specimen. This giant stands 11 ½ inches high, 6 inches wide and is 3 ¼ inches thick. This rose-pink specimen would be an impressive addition to any museum collection. Comes with its own custom base.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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