Rare Afghanite

[Theduke]

Up for grabs is a nice 17.97 ct Afghanite piece asking price is $60

Heres a page with more info on it https://m.minerals.net/mineral/afghanite.aspx

 

[user 4386]

Out of focus - is it Lapis? They make up new gem and precious stone names faster than I can keep up. I was once offered an onyx and malachite chessboard with carved figurine chess pieces in onyx and lapis when I was in Kabul. I laughed ("$50 - that's ridiculous"!). What it is to be young and poor.....

 

[Theduke]

No its not lapis, Ill get a couple of in focus photos and put them up didnt realise it focused on the background last night

 

[user 4386]

Interesting. Apparently afghanite is a cancrinite-group felspathoid unlike lazulite (which is a sodalite group felspathoid). Apparently the two minerals (lazulite and afghanite) occur together in Afghanistan. So it is an actual mineral name not a gem name (had never heard of it).

 

[Theduke]

Theres slight differences between them both that distinguishes them apart

 

[user 4386]

Theres slight differences between them both that distinguishes them apart

In fact the only thing in common seems to be colour, despite them coming from the same mine and occurring together (one is a phosphorous mineral the other a chloride mineral, one is a silicate, one is iron magnesium and the other sodium, potassium and calcium.

 

[Theduke]

Heres a few better photos

 

[goody2shoes]

What could it be turned into do you think?

Goody

 

[Theduke]

Its 5.5 to 6 on the mohs scale and nice to carve so maybe pendant or just keep it in a collection

 

[Theduke]

Its 22.2mm long and 13.2mm x 11.0mm x11.9mm along the widest sections of the 3 flattest sides. Heres another piece I rough shaped with my dremel. I have a fair bit of it around the 20ct size

 

[Theduke]

It has a really nice orange fluorescence thats hard to capture but this should give you an idea