Corundum var. ruby - Marble quarries Prilep, North Macedonia
Ex. Robert Scheck collection
 
Historical matrix specimen (acquired in 1979) with numerous sharp-edged, lustrous and intensely colored rubies. The specimen is partially overgrown with lichen, which can be easily cleaned away. Although this would allow the rubies to show up better on the light matrix, we decided to keep the specimen in its current state.   
The color is typically opaque pink-violet for the site. The dolomite marble at Prilep contains numerous veins of calcite with idiomorphic corundum and rutile crystals.
Great historical collector's piece from Europe.