Hiddenite Butterfly

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In 1897, a vibrant green variety of spodumene was found associated with emerald in North Carolina and was named hiddenite, after its discoverer W. E. Hidden. Hiddenite is the rarest spodumene gem, and the green color of the crystals from North Carolina, caused by traces of chromium, has not been matched by any other locality. The Hiddenite Butterfly is very rare and unusual. The hiddenite in the body, 10.02 carats, is one of the largest ever mined. There are 12 carats of green tourmaline from Afghanistan in the wings along with 13.05 carats of rainbow moonstones. The eyes are 0.25 carats of red beryl, from the Wah Wah mountain range in Utah. The 18k yellow gold Hiddenite Butterfly is part of a collection of 18 jeweled butterfly brooches created and designed by Elvis "Buzz" Gray and Bernadine Johnston. The butterflies were gifted to the National Gem Collection by the Smithsonian Gem and Mineral Collectors.