The following offering of afghanite specimens is from the 2001 find
at Sar-e-Sang, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. A member of the cancrinite group,
afghanite's chemical composition is (Na,Ca,K)8(Si,Al)12O24(SO4,Cl,CO3)3·(H2O).
8/23/2006-
While in Pakistan I stumbled across a
miner who had stashed away a large lot of afghanite from the 2001 find.
All were of extremely high quality--sharp, translucent, some even double
terminated. I purchased the entire lot (30 plus specimens), and am offering a
small selection from the lot on this page.
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AFG11 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
6.3x 4.0x 3.1
cm
This is one of the finest afghanites to come from the
find. It consists of a translucent and exceptionally sharp, DOUBLE
TERMINATED afghanite crystal on matrix. The crystal is reasonably
large, at 2.9 cm. Only a very small number of
the afghanites were double terminated. The first specimens
found in mid 2001 had rounded, weathered crystals. As excavations
continued, smaller, sharper crystals started to come out. This is an
important specimen; and certainly among the top few afghanites in the
world. |
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AFG1 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
5x 3.5x 5.2
cm
$400
A large, pale blue, freestanding crystal of afghanite on marble
measuring 2x 1.9x 1.2 cm. Very sharp for the species, and almost
translucent in some areas.
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AFG12 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
2.9x 2.4x 2.3
cm
$200
An exceptionally sharp, translucent, and double
termianted afghanite crystal on a marble matrix. |
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AFG13 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.6x
3.3x 2.9 cm
$110
Repaired
Another very sharp, translucent crystal on matrix.
It is repaired, so the price is much lower.
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FG14 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
5.7x
3.3x 2.5 cm
$165
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite crystal
on a marble matrix. Interesting termination.
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AFG15 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.3x 2.7x 2.1
cm
$265
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite crystal
on a marble matrix.
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AFG6 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.4x 2.5x 1.3
cm
$185
Three dark blue terminated crystals of afghanite on
marble , the largest of which is just over 1.3 cm in length
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AFG16 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
4.9x 4.8x 3.5
cm
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite crystal
on a marble matrix. Complete all around, and no damage.
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AFG8 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
5x 4.9x 2.5
cm
$265
$165
A rough blue, crystal of afghanite on marble measuring
3.4x.9 cm in length
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AFG17 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
4.6x
4.0x 3.0 cm
$175
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite
crystal on a marble matrix.
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AFG18 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.8x
3.3x 2.5 cm
$275
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite
crystal on a marble matrix. One of the best miniatures in the
group.
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AFG19 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
5.7x
5.5x 4.2 cm
$265
This one is unusual, int hat there are two crystals on
the matrix--most specimens only have one. BOTH are double
terminated, the one possitioned higher up on the specimen shows this a
little ore clearly. The crystals reach 2 cm.
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AFG20 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.8x
3.5x 3.0 cm
$115
An exceptionally sharp afghanite crystal on a marble
matrix.
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AFG21 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
4.6x
3.7x 3.3 cm
$185
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite
crystal on a marble matrix. There is a chip on the side of this
one, but it is a 2.1 cm doible terminated xtl.
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AFG22 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.8x
3.5x 3.2 cm
$175
Another double terminated afghanite on marble, showing
very good faces.
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AFG23 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.2x
2.7x 2.5 cm
$165
Another terminated afghanite on marble, showing very
good faces.
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AFG24 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
2.9x
2.9x 2.8 cm
$1585
Another double terminated afghanite on marble, showing
very good faces.
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AFG25 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.8x
3.8x 2.5 cm
$155
A sharp, deep blue crystal sharing its matrix with
another, smaller crystal.
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AFG26 Afghanite
Sar-e-Sang,
Badakhshan, Afghanistan
3.6x
1.5x 2.3 cm
$165
An exceptionally sharp and translucent afghanite
crystal on a marble matrix. One of the best miniatures in the
group.
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