Epidote with Actinolite

Gemmy, bottle to deep sage-green translucent Epidote from the Knappenwandmulde series of epidote-amphibolites are amongst some of the world’s best Epidote crystals. These were first discovered while prospecting for copper in 1865. This superb large miniature specimen has three main epidote crystals which grow outwards from a common origin. Two of these, which measure 3.2 and 2.7 cm long, are not terminated as the crystals have been broken, probably because of extraction while in-situ. The third however is 4.9 cm long and with a perfect, pyramidally-stepped termination. Mid-way along this crystal is a cluster of smaller, all terminated, Epidote crystals, partly coated in fine super-delicate hair-like Actinolite crystals. If this specimen is destined for your collection, then do study it very carefully before handling it, as a finger in the wrong place will readily crush the Actinolite. A choice specimen indeed!