Rare Natural Untreated Fiery Reddish Orange Sphalerite (Spain) 11.70ct 13.4mm

Description

With intense saturation and medium to deep tone displaying reddish orange hues this beautiful sphalerite is vs in clarity. It is precisely well faceted as seen in the above photos. The color hues show differently in various lighting conditions. The photos were taken in natural sunlight with exception of the last 3 taken indoors under regular indoor lighting. This gem demands attention as it appears to be lit from within as the facets reflect light sending sparks of maroon, rusty red, sunset orange, and variations of the like. It was difficult to capture this fire in the photos as this is gem is so much better in person.
(From a national reserve in Spain this mine has been closed and no longer produces material in an effort to no longer disturb the environment)
Sphalerite is a rare collector's gem whose claim to fame is exceptional dispersion or fire. In fact its dispersion rating is three times as high as that for diamond. It has both a very high refractive index and an extremely high dispersion, making this gem an extraordinary piece for gem collections. Sphalerite is a relatively soft gem, with a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 on the
Mohs scale
; about the same as fluorite. Sphalerite is not known to be treated.
Sphalerite is a zinc sulphide and is best known in the mineral world as the chief ore of zinc. Most sphalerite contains iron and when the iron content is high it is an opaque black. The rare gem-quality crystals have a very low iron content and considerable transparency. They are typically a yellowish to honey brown, red to orange, or green.
Spain produces wonderful, gem-quality yellow, orange, and red specimens. Mexico produces gem-quality greenish and brownish stones. Franklin, New Jersey yields the very rare, pale to colorless facetable variety of sphalerite.
Please search:
11.44 Cts Natural Reddish Orange Sphalerite Oval Cut Spain Gem (Video Avl)
&
11.32 Cts Natural Rare Deep Red Sphalerite Oval Cut Spain Gem (Video Avl)
to compare like item.
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