AfghaniteThis complex feldspathoid is one of the more obscure members of the Cancrinite group, especially in fine quality specimens. The vast majority of Afghanite crystals, no matter how saturated the color may be, are opaque. This specimen hosts a beautiful, sharp, lustrous, well formed, prismatic crystal of Afghanite measuring a whopping 4. 0 cm jutting out of massive white Calcite matrix. A great display specimen of a species that is only found in good

The quality is nice for this particular kind of Hematite from the area

euhedral crystals with classic "butterfly"-twins

well-formed faces and good internal gemminess that allows that wonderful pink color to glow with a bit of backlighting

but the unique appearance and coloring makes it fairly priced for the size

and it is crystallized nearly all the way around

The inclusions are created by iron oxide and give the piece wonderfully strong red-orange coloration and thin “capillary”-like lines where the nickname “Blood Vessel Opal” comes from

or perhaps more appropriately

branching fire coral

The side of the piece has a second spherical aggregate that was contact upon extraction from the pocket

brownish Limonite and black Sphalerite matrix

but it doesn’t show from the display side

but certainly not opaque