MS7630: World’s Largest and finest Tugtupite

 From the gem tugtupite mines on Kvanefjeld - A major find this summer, this piece is most likely the single largest and finest specimen ever mined. The likelihood of a similar piece being recovered is very slim. The gem tugtupite mines are rapidly being depleted and few specimens make it past the cabochon wheel, much less ones of this size.

Description: A single large boulder was mined and later split into two pieces. The smaller 3 pound piece (pictured below - 10” x 6”) fits perfectly onto the large boulder (20+ pounds) and the pair offer a unique specimen for the collector, rarely encountered. The tugtupite areas are a deep pink/red under natural light, set in an analcime/lujavrite matrix with areas of sphaelerite. Under SW UV the red is dazzling, offset be areas of bright green chkalovite and grey/white beryllite (and possibly some green FL natrolite). 

The larger piece is a mirror image of the small piece pictured below with additional tugtupite areas extending beyond the area exposed by the removal of the smaller piece. It weighs over 20lbs and measures a whopping 2 feet! All faces are “mine fresh” with only minor weathering on one (non-display) face, and show no drill or saw marks. Longwave response is the typical salmon color exhibited by tugtupite.