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Lot 8407

Unusual Wollastonite Decorative Vase

3 December 2006, 11:00 PST
Los Angeles

Sold for US$956 inc. premium

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Unusual Wollastonite Decorative Vase

Dalnegorsk, Primorsky Kraj
Far-Eastern Region, Russia

Wollastonite is found in only a few localities—in this case in the famous mineral rich mining region of eastern Russia approximately 300 km north east of Vladivostok. It was confirmed as a distinct species in 1818, and named in honor of William Hyde Wollaston (1766-1828), who also discovered the elements palladium and rhodium. Chemically, wollastonite is a silicate of calcium, which although occasionally seen in crystal form, is seen here in its massive version with strong green banding of the diopside variety of hedenbergite. Hence this particular type is known as wollastonite hedenbergite skarn. It occurs in alkaline igneous rocks and most deposits are formed when impure limestone is metamorphosed by hot magma containing silica. This is an excellent example of Russian lapidary art in its utilization of a native mineral. Height 10in, width 13in

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