Treasure
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Tsumeb, Namibia
Size: 5.1 x 3.4 x 2.1 cm
Watch Video
|
||
When thinking about world-class dioptase it always comes down to one lacality: Tsumeb. No other location has produced anything near as good as the rich emerals green crystals that have been found at that famous mine. One major example is the dioptase we are presenting here.This specimen holds one large, gemmy and lustrous, richly emerald green dioptase crystal that is surrounded by smaller side-crystals and white calcite. The crystal is doubly terminated and incredible 2.7 cm long! Size and quality of this specimen are absolutely overwhelming in person. It is virtually perfect with just one barely discernible ding at one of those very sharp edges. Dioptase crystals rarely reach a size 2 cm, making this one a sheer giant. A real killer in size and brilliance!
Kapudzhukh Mt, Zangezur Range, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan
Size: 7.4 x 5.4 x 4.2 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
The aesthetics of this piece is absolutely unique, featuring two opposing crystals on characteristic brownish matrix with smaller quartz. Especially the larger main crystal is absolutely astonishing. Massy and with great luster, wonderfully modified and structured. Anyhow, its also the smaller crystal that adds very much to the overall beauty of this piece, making it even more interesting. A rutile-duality on matrix as I have not seen one alike. A matchless piece with a very distinct outline that miraculously catches the eye.
Serra do Caldeirão, Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Size: 5.3 x 3.4 x 3.4 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
129 gramm of pure gold is dramatically developed as a 3-dimensional arborescent sculpture! The whole specimen is rich in details that sparkle with intensive yellow color. Hoppered fishbone growth, grape-like extensions and branching twigs of solid, shiny gold. This is for sure one of the most striking specimens I have seen coming from this locale that has quickly come to fame for its high quality gold specimens. 3-dimensional development, intensive color and a shimmering surface are trademarks of the locale and of this specimen in particular. Have a look on our video to see the full beauty of this brilliant gold!
Fazenda do Centro, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Size: 27 x 23 x 17 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This huge heart-shaped etched topaz is one of the largest and most spectacular specimens from the one-time find near Fazenda do Centro in Brazil!
The shape, the quality, the sheer size and the utter importance of this enormous specimen is exceptional to say the least!
Despite its heavy weight there is no damage or even abrasions visible which seems almost impossible considering how it was was dug out of the Brazilian soil.
When you turn the piece around you see a staggering richness of etched faces, some with lizard-scale like structure, some with sharp and lustrous forms like polished glass. At one side you can even see part the original topaz as a flat and highly lustrous crystal face. Through this face you can see deep into the glassy and transparent topaz which feels like diving into a cave of wonders!
What's special and unusual as well is the bi-color characteristic of light blue at the center with champagne colored edges. Absolutely stunning and beautiful in person!
Fazenda do Centro, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Size: 18.5 x 18.5 x 6 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This outstanding topaz is out of the spectacular 2017 find near a farm in Fazenda do Centro, Brazil. Over 80 kg of pure topaz were literally unearthed before the spot got depleted once and for all. This topaz has the unique shape of a bi-color butterfly, ocean-blue and champagne-orange. As is characteristic for this find, the piece is completely etched all around with nicely structured faces, sharp jags and indentations. A break on the side seems re-healed, but most parts are perfect anyway, no room for interpretations. Size, shape and color of this specimen are highly attractive in person. The crystal body itself is completely glassy through and through making it seem almost like artfully blown glass! A rare and charming masterpiece from this unique locale!
Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 8.2 x 7 x 4.9 cm
Watch Video
|
||
A “V” shaped group of two high quality aquamarine crystals, associated with some jet-black schorl is set atop a marvelous white adularia matrix! This highly attractive piece is a complete floater and free of any damage! The aquamarine is glassy with perfect wet-look luster! Both crystals show nice bevelled terminations that are all complete and without a single scratch! The color is charming and easily stands out against the black and white background! The shigar valley is one of the most productive beryl deposits worldwide and has produced some of the finest aquamarine specimens over the past decades. Still, pieces of such excellent quality and aesthetics are rare on the market, especially in such flawless condition!
Pyingyi Taung, Male, Singu Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
Size: 9.2 x 6.4 x 3.6 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
Sparkling, raspberry-red tourmaline crystals are crowded on a shard of white quartz! The whole piece is a stunning wonderland of gemmyness and juicy colors that is nothing short of amazing! The crystals are all stocky prisms with complex terminations. Still, interesting enough, some of the crystals show the flat terminations which is a great aspect from the mineralogical view! The raspberry-red color is intensively present but at direct down-light you will find the crystals to be bi-colored, having a olive-green to yellow core. The whole thing is free of damage with only some peripheral contacts. The large flat crystal at the top has a small restauration but thats it. Just beautiful. Just brilliant. Just amazing!
Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Transbaikalia, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
Size: 11 x 4.6 x 3.9 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
From a chemical, prosaic point of view, this is a liddicoatite-rubellite mix-crystal associated with muscovite around the base. It is repaired once. But fortunately the world is not just facts and physics! This tourmaline specimen displays a clarity and luster that seem almost uncanny, knowing this piece comes from Malkhan where crystals are commonly much more murky and dull. Still, however you turn this spectacular specimen, the luster is absolutely top notch and the gemmyness is pristine! From bottom up you see a play of warm colors, from olive-green with some pink influence to an elegant bordeaux-red towards the termination. Said termination is a real miracle for itself, so lustrous, so nicely structured, so well developed and perfect. This is sure on of the very finest and most aesthetic tourmaline specimens ever to have come from this famous locale!
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Tsumeb, Namibia
Size: 8.1 x 7.1 x 4.7 cm
Watch Video
|
||
The cobalt-bearing variant of smithsonite is an extremely rare species with finds almost exclusively in the famed Tsumeb mine. This specimen is a masterpiece that combines wonderful crystal quality and gorgeous aesthetics! The largest and most impressive crystal is set at the very center, surrounded by a three-dimensional landscape of smaller crystals which hang there like ripe pink grapes. The crystal has 2 cm in diameter, is lustrous, clear and with lovely pink color. All around the crystals are just brilliant and beautifully embedded in a black manganese matrix. This is certainly a significant and important specimen! It comes with a label from Dr. Reinhard Dallinger, who also had it depicted in the Supplement to the Mineralogical Record, “Minerals Collections in Austris” from 2015.
Tokovaya river, Ekaterinburg, Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Size: 7.7 x 4.4 x 3.1 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This single prominent Tokovaya river emerald crystal is 7,6 cm long and 1,2 cm thick and shows intensively green color from bottom to top! The quality is absolutely beautiful as well, especially towards the terminations where it gets increasingly glassy and bright!
The crystal is set on a characteristic black mica schist matrix with two smaller emerald side-crystals which makes for a perfectly balanced and super aesthetic specimen!
Remarkably enough for such a long and free standing crystal it is NOT repaired or restored and free of any damage! This fact is even more exciting when considering that most crystals of comparable quality go to the cutter and are not preserved for the specimen collectors.
Our video shows a better 360° impression of the piece that has so much to offer in respect of crystal quality and aesthetics!
Merelani Mine, Arusha, Tanzania
Size: 5.9 x 5.1 x 3.3 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
I have seen a couple of fine Chrome-Tourmalines over the years but this specimen is just breathtaking and for sure the best one I ever came across. With almost 6 cm in diameter this piece lies heavily in hands and loses nothing of its beauty when turned around. It is a perfect floater, a short doubly terminated tourmaline cluster of exceptional shape. There are gapfills at the frontside but which are totally acceptable on a masterpiece like this. One major aspect about this specimen is the fantastic bright green color that virtually explodes from this piece at direct illumination. I got this piece from an old collection in Vienna and I am extremely pleased about that. The former owner did many trips to Tanzania himself but never layed hands on another comparable piece. A world-class piece of pure brilliance!
Dara-i-Pech pegmatite field, Chapa Dara District, Kunar, Afghanistan
Size: 14.3 x 3.2 x 2.4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
This tremendous emerald green tourmaline is gemmy from bottom to top and needs only very little backlight to reveal its mesmerizing quality! All sides show superb luster right up to the termination which is somewhat frosted but very well developed and undamaged! The overall condition is great with only few very minimal abrasions at the sides. A side-crytal at the backside is broken but re-healed and not visible from the front. Apart from that the crystal is in exceptionally fine shape with no repairs or fills. Massive size, gorgeous quality and absolutely brilliant green color make this a vibrant crystal of great impact!