International Minerals
Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 3.3 x 2 x 1.4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
A single ball of lemon yellow brucite in nice glassy quality is set on a small piece of rock matrix. The backside has a contact but apart from that the crystal is flawless. Very straight forward aesthetics and brilliant quality from the game-changing 2015 finds in the Killa Saifullah District!
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Québec, Canada
Size: 8.1 x 6.1 x 4.5 cm
|
||
A sparkling masterpiece of brilliant vesuvianite from the famous Jeffrey Quarry which produced so many of those fantastic specimens until it was finally closed down in 2002. The crystals are of gemmy quality, sharp and show a beautiful combination of apple green and purple. A lot of the crystals are doubly terminated, show superb luster and rich open colors. The color combination and composition of this piece are absolutely superb and overwhelmingly attractive. Highest quality meets a striking outline and 360° of perfection!
Golconda Mine, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 10.8 x 9.5 x 2.9 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
It's hard to imagine how a single crystal could be better emphasized on a specimen! The intensively purple fluorapatite is set on a massive blueish black tourmaline matrix that is covered in a cream-colored layer of mica microcrystals. The apatite is gemmy, highly lustrous and virtually perfect. When you turn the piece around you can see the massive black tourmaline that is mostly opaque but has some gemmy blue patches too. Definitely an unusual yet remarkable specimen!
Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 4.6 x 3.7 x 3 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Two short prismatic and highly lustrous vesuvianite crystals are perched on a rust brown matrix. The vesuvianite is sharp and of dark brown color that is hard to illuminate but shows some gemmy patches along the surface! Associated with the vesuvianite is some sparkling feldspar and small vesuvianite side-crystals. The aesthetics of this piece is definitely striking and extremely well developed. All crystals are in perfect condition and beautiful in their own mysterious and elegant way!
Fazenda do Centro, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Size: 10.9 x 7.2 x 4 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This topaz from the important one-time find in Fazenda do Centro has a very special shape! It has a very deep natural gap right in the middle without getting too fragile. The backside is completely flat which means there was another crystal which either detached or dissolved. Shape, quality and condition are extremely good on this fine topaz as you easily can see in our video!
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Bolognesi Province, Áncash, Peru
Size: 11.6 x 7.8 x 6.3 cm
Watch Video
|
||
With a diameter of 6.8 cm the main crystal on this pyrite specimen is absolutely amazing. It is nested between other pyrites of matching quality and the uncommon dodecahedral shape. The surface shows golden luster and some beautiful structures and striations. When turning the piece around you will find it mostly crystallized and perfect with only one contacted section and hardly any abrasions. It's an excellent pyrite from one of the worlds best locales for the mineral!
Riemvasmaak, Kakamas, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Size: 8.9 x 7.7 x 5.7 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Quality and shape are absolutely spectacular on this unusual fluorite specimen! Glassy and intensively green fluorite octahedrons are stacked upon each other with the largest crystals at the bottom and the smaller crystals atop. What's most unusual here is the 2-dimensional arrangement of the smaller octahedrons: Like a wall made of fluorite bricks! This flat structure makes it very easy for the ligth to enter from the back and illuminate the piece. A stunning piece in person and in marvelous condition all around! The shape quite obviously reminds of a little bunnies which is what we call the piece here at Saphira Minerals: "The Bunny"
Huayllapon Mine, Pasto Bueno District, Pallasca Province, Peru
Size: 10.9 x 9 x 6 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Most pyrite specimens are relatively uniform with similar crystal sizes and habits. This piece on the other hand is something very special! Atop this cluster of pyrite and quartz stands a single, around 6.5 cm large pyrite that strikes with size, brilliance and unusual development alike! The predominant crystal form on this piece is the dodecahedral pyrite, modified in many ways. The main crystal is much more elongated and contorted which makes it intriguingly appealing! All in all this is a floater without any noteworthy issues and of exceptional aesthetics!
|
|
|
The color, the brilliance, the shape. All fits together on this marvelous tourmaline specimen! Especially the green upper half strikes with super-gemmy quality that concludes in a fascinating polyhedral termination! Smaller side-crystals and some white feldspar at the back add some more flavor to the tourmaline and make it a visually appealing specimen of very individual character. Best quality and condition!
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 8.9 x 3.4 x 2.4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Striking colors, a sharp termination, great aesthetics and very good size all add up to this formidable specimen! The color zoning is truly exceptional with a major zone of open chrome-green that is capped by a fast shift to blue, white and pink at the tip. The termination is rather impressive, a sharp figure of good luster that very well shows the pink color. The backside carries a mix of smaller tourmalines and feldspar, all perfect, sparkling and 3-dimiensional. Most beautiful about his rock is surely the front face which has best luster, nice striations up to the top and gives great insight into the open colored, gemmy crystal. The condition is near perfect with only a minimal, completely invisible restoration along the termination.
Mogok Township, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
Size: 7.5 x 6.4 x 3.4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
The well defined, gemmy, lustrous zircon crystal with golden amber color is set on a white calcite matrix. The single crystal is very well emphasized against the contrasting matrix which is actually quite uncommon for this rare mineral. The crystal gets even more intense at direct downlight which easily brings out the wonderfully appealing color! A beautiful crystal in very best condition!
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Huamachuco, Sanchez Carrion, La Libertad, Peru
Size: 11.4 x 8.6 x 5.8 cm
Watch Video
|
||
A characteristic combination of cubical pyrite on a heavy quartz/pyrite matrix. The shiny golden crystals are interlocked and set atop the matrix. They show nice surface striations and luster and are of strong golden color. In between you can find smaller sphalerite crystals. At closer inspection you will find some smaller damage, most of which however is on the backside. Our video draws a realistic picture of this nice specimen!