Aquamarine, Scheelite and Muscovite, Sichuan, China
Aquamarine, Scheelite and Muscovite, Sichuan, China
Description
A large, radiating fan of pale silvery muscovite mica, its blades catching the light in soft overlapping sheets across the full breadth of the specimen. Set within this mica fan are pale icy-blue aquamarine crystals, their cool colour a quiet contrast against the warmer tones of the mica, and a single sharp, honey-orange scheelite crystal breaking through near the centre like a small flame against the pale ground. The piece has real scale and presence, a broad, disc-like form that reads as much like a sculptural object as a mineral specimen.
This piece comes from the Pingwu Beryl Mine, on Mount Xuebaoding in Pingwu County, Sichuan, China; one of the most celebrated aquamarine localities discovered in the modern collecting era. First worked in the 1990s at extreme altitude and difficulty of access, Xuebaoding quickly became renowned among collectors worldwide for producing fine aquamarine in association with muscovite and scheelite exactly as seen here, a combination found almost nowhere else. Material of this scale, with this much mica development and a visible scheelite crystal, is genuinely scarce, and pieces like this represent some of the finest examples this locality has to offer.
You will receive the exact specimen and stand photographed.
Details:
- Minerals: Aquamarine (Beryl), Scheelite and Muscovite
- Locality: Pingwu Beryl Mine, Huya Township, Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang, Sichuan, China
- Size (on stand): approx. 9.2 x 7.5 x 3.25 inches | Weight: 1.9kg
- Size (off stand): approx. 7.5 x 7 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 1.4kg
- Display: Mounted on a custom stand
- Condition: Natural, unpolished; features consistent with formation
Note
All crystals and ceramic works offered by Atelier Lithic are inherently unique. Variations in size, colour, surface texture, and form are natural and should be expected.
Crystals are natural materials formed in the earth and may include surface irregularities such as natural fissures, internal veils, growth marks, contact points from where the crystal was attached to the host rock, or areas where the specimen was mined or extracted. These features are part of the crystal’s natural formation and are not considered defects. Defects are disclosed within the item description.
For crystals:
- When a listing includes numbered options (for example, 001, 002, etc.), each number corresponds to a specific crystal shown in the photos. Selecting a number means you will receive that exact crystal.
- When a crystal is shown as a group or range and sold as a quantity of one without numbered options, the images represent examples of what is available. You will receive one crystal, selected from the group, with natural variation.
For ceramics:
- All ceramic pieces are one of a kind. Unless otherwise stated, you will receive the exact piece shown in the listing photos.
If you ever want confirmation before purchasing, feel free to reach out. We're always happy to clarify or provide additional images.