Anhydrite Valais, Switzerland "A cluster of pale pink...
Anhydrite Valais, Switzerland "A cluster of pale pink crystals to about an inch. I traded this specimen from the George Vaux collection at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia when Harold Arndt was curator of the collections there." - Rock H. Currier With no firm date to guide us, we can only guess that this specimen was recovered during the construction/excavation of the Simplon Railway Tunnel, North Section. But that's a pretty solid guess: the color and form are consistent with this origin and the locality IS in the Valais. For many years after its completion, the Simplon was considered the locality for fine Anhydrite specimens. Mining in other parts of the world has broadened the selection to a major degree, but the Simplon material is still Spitzenklasse. Evidently at one time there was a label because Rock said on Mindat: "Anhydrite crystals. Specimen is from the George Vaux collection #8346 ... " but no Vaux label was found. There is a custom acrylic base. Overall Measurements: 2.4 x 2.0 x 1.8 inches (6.0 x 5.0 x 4.5 cm) Offered at no reserve Provenance: Ex. Bryn Mawr College, Ex. George Vaux Collections [RHC #1582, acquired 1971] MinID XDR-KW3 [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]
HID09710052018
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Anhydrite Valais, Switzerland "A cluster of pale pink crystals to about an inch. I traded this specimen from the George Vaux collection at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia when Harold Arndt was curator of the collections there." - Rock H. Currier With no firm date to guide us, we can only guess that this specimen was recovered during the construction/excavation of the Simplon Railway Tunnel, North Section. But that's a pretty solid guess: the color and form are consistent with this origin and the locality IS in the Valais. For many years after its completion, the Simplon was considered the locality for fine Anhydrite specimens. Mining in other parts of the world has broadened the selection to a major degree, but the Simplon material is still Spitzenklasse. Evidently at one time there was a label because Rock said on Mindat: "Anhydrite crystals. Specimen is from the George Vaux collection #8346 ... " but no Vaux label was found. There is a custom acrylic base. Overall Measurements: 2.4 x 2.0 x 1.8 inches (6.0 x 5.0 x 4.5 cm) Offered at no reserve Provenance: Ex. Bryn Mawr College, Ex. George Vaux Collections [RHC #1582, acquired 1971] MinID XDR-KW3 [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]
HID09710052018
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
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Time, Location
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