{"product_id":"topaz-with-aquamarine-adun-cholon-range-nerchinsk-zabaykalsky-krai-russia","title":"Topaz with Aquamarine – Adun-Cholon Range, Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn impressive and historically interesting \u003cstrong\u003etopaz with aquamarine\u003c\/strong\u003e specimen from the \u003cstrong\u003eAdun-Cholon Range near Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Adun-Cholon Mountains of Transbaikalia are a classic historic Russian mineral locality particularly noted for pegmatite minerals, including topaz and beryl. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe specimen features numerous well-developed, translucent pale golden to champagne-colored, prismatic \u003cstrong\u003etopaz crystals\u003c\/strong\u003e distributed across pegmatitic matrix. The dark, striated crystals actually have \u003cstrong\u003eaquamarine\u003c\/strong\u003e cores! At first I missed this until the specimen was under strong illumination. I am not entirely sure what the black to dark green coating is though. The entire specimen has a natural iron-staining which certainly does not help the aesthetics. However I find any mineral specimen from a historic Russian locality has significant charm and intrigue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollector provenance \u003c\/strong\u003eon this piece has an interesting recent history. The specimen comes from with a label from William L. Roberts collection which was later obtained and marketed by the Dakota Matrix dealership. It was purchased by an unknown Calgary, Alberta collection which somehow ended up in Value Village in Calgary (a thrift store). This \"Value Village collection\" was purchased by the sharp eye of an enterprising young man in Calgary who later sold it to me at Rocky Mountain Minerals \u0026amp; Fossils. It is a shame we do not know who this mysterious Calgary collector was in the missing link or who owned it prior to William Roberts. This is likely a very old specimen; if it could only talk about its previous owners!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinerals:\u003c\/strong\u003e Topaz, Aquamarine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adun-Cholon Range, Nerchinsk, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal System:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orthorhombic (Topaz); Hexagonal (Aquamarine\/Beryl)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Class:\u003c\/strong\u003e Silicate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ex Willard L. Roberts Collection #53530; Dakota Matrix; Unknown Calgary collector; Ex Daniel Nieviadomy \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 × 7  cm\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rocky Mountain Minerals and Fossils","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52749715210522,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/6011\/1386\/files\/Topaz-Aquamarine-Adun-Cholon-Nerchinsk-Zabaykalsky-Russia01.jpg?v=1787870144","url":"https:\/\/keithrocks.ca\/products\/topaz-with-aquamarine-adun-cholon-range-nerchinsk-zabaykalsky-krai-russia","provider":"Rocky Mountain Minerals and Fossils","version":"1.0","type":"link"}