Epidote

A wonderful non-pegmatite gem crystal specimen from the famous metamorphic “clefts” in the Shigar Valley. It has become increasingly more difficult to obtain top specimens from this locality, especially such fine quality specimens like this one. Epidote is one of the most well-known of all the Alpine cleft species in the world, and some of the finest Epidote specimens in the world have been coming out of Pakistan in recent years. These specimens are seemingly identical to the classic Alpine specimens from the European Alps, and in certain instances, have surpassed the European specimens for quality, size and gemminess. Some of the most celebrated Epidote specimens from the Alps are the highly sought after “sword-shaped” specimens, but they are typically nearly opaque and black internally.

This crystal group exhibits the classic "sword-shaped" habit with high luster, very sharp faces, and a rich blending of root beer, amber and olive-oil colored hues that can be seen when the piece is rotated in the light as Epidote is strongly pleochroic. It's a very good quality specimen that displays well and would fit nicely into any collection. Only a small amount of roughness keeps it from being pristine, but this is easily forgiven when compared to most Epidotes from this locality. This material is highly prized by collectors for its exceptional form, as it resembles the classic Alpine Epidote specimens that sell for top dollar around the world. These pieces are highly coveted by Alpine collectors, and good pieces are next to impossible to obtain from the classic European localities. From the "Alpine-type" collection of my father, Epidote was one of his favorite species.

Ex.Richard A. Kosnar collection

Specimen # PAKAFG61331