International Minerals 53
Green Monster Deposit, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, USA
Size: 4 x 2.7 x 1.9 cm
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What I like about this epidote specimen is the distinctive composition: The stubby main crystal is accompanied only by a small cluster of white quartz and small epidotes on the left side. If you look closely you will realize that the whole specimen is in excellent condition down to the smallest details. Very attractive in person! If you ever wanted to add a Green Monster epidote to your collection, this might be the one for you!
Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Size: 15.2 x 10.3 x 8.5 cm
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With a total size of 15.2 cm this is an impressive and incredibly vibrant fluorite specimen from Berbes.
Given some backlight, this whole crown of transparent fluorite cubes explodes with beautiful satiated purple color!
Every crystal has distinctive multi-layered phantoms inside which is partly visible in the picture but even much stronger in person!
The matrix is a classic limestone with crystallized quartz and some orange micro-baryte.
Some white quartz is also grown atop the fluorites which looks like a freshly fallen snow blanket.
Everything here is natural and in fantastic condition!
An outstanding specimen from this important locale!
Tormiq valley, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 4 x 3.3 x 1.5 cm
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Epidote from the Alpine type clefts of Pakistan are a well known species that impresses with gemmy quality and a multitude of different shapes!
This complex aggregate is a lovely little specimen in superb condition all around!
Chimney Rock Quarry, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA
Size: 6 x 1.4 x 1 cm
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This exceptionally fine natrolite crystal has a remarkable size of 6 cm and displays quality that is extremely rare on crystals this size!
Picture and video provide some insight but I must honestly say that the piece is much better in person.
As you can see it has a complex architecture, apparently composed of several crystals with individual terminations which makes this much more attractive than a simple single crystal.
Each termination is well developed and flawless.
On the backside you will also find some yellowish calcites attached to the crystal.
Most impressive however is the marvelous quality of this natrolite which displays excellent transparent zones, especially towards the termination.
A stunning crystal from one of the world’s best locations for this mineral!
N'Chwaning Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari manganese field, South Africa
Size: 2.4 x 1.9 x 1.6 cm
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It's a rare ettringite specimen from the N’Chwaning mine that features a 6 mm long main crystal on a well balanced and aesthetic matrix. Bright yellow color and a gemmy interior really strike here and contrast strongly with the glistening dark grey matrix.
Laman celestine deposit, Qala e Naw District, Badghis, Afghanistan
Size: 5.6 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm
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The single main celestine on this specimen is absolutely stunning! It is a massive crystals, 3.1 cm broad and 2.6 cm thick, that shows the most intensive sky blue color! The quality is very good. Despite some internal cracks it has overall good transparency, it is perfectly shaped and without damage. The crystal is set on the characteristic yellowish matrix which makes for an excellent picture. Among the pieces we have seen coming from this locale, this one surely stands out for its impressive main crystal!
Pyingyi Taung, Male, Singu Township, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
Size: 5.6 x 4.1 x 2.1 cm
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This splendid rubellite is from a 2024 find in Pyingyi Taung, Myanamar. A wonderful combination of rubellites and transparent quartz that has much to offer.
It might not be a huge specimen but a beautiful one for sure.
The tourmalines show sparkling quality as well as intensive color.
This color is actually a combination of red on the larger crystals and orange/brown on the smaller ones in the center which creates a vibrant view.
Some white feldspar and a sharp and transparent quartz perfect the picture.
Most tourmalines have a complex termination but some have a simple flat termination which is fascination to have both on one specimen.
The condition is near perfect with only some hardly discernible issues.
Ganesh Himal, Dhading, Bagmati Zone, Nepal
Size: 12.2 x 4.7 x 5.1 cm
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I find this single crystal quartz from Ganesh Himal particularly impressive. Especially in the upper half it exhibits splendid water-clear quality and it is completely undamaged. It's an extraordinarily massive crystal. It is sharp-edged, highly lustrous and transparent with inclusions of green chlorite and fine actinolithe needles. The lower half is somewhat more rough, not so well shaped, but again, no damage is visible. A truly top-class and beautiful piece, as you can also see in our video.
Johannesschacht Mine, Wölsendorf, Bavaria, Germany
Size: 13.8 x 9.6 x 5.7 cm
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Glassy and highly lustrous honey-yellow fluorite cubes in differing sizes are stacked upon each other to form this outstanding specimen. It's a sweeping sculpture with a completely crystallized and shiny yellow front! The crystals are largely in wonderful condition with only very minimal edge-wear here and there. I have seen many specimens from the locale but this one certainly stand out! It's a shame this locale was shut down in 1963 as the characteristic "honey spar" ("Honigspat") fluorites have something uniquely beautiful about them!
Touissit, Oujda-Angad Prov., Oriental Region, Morocco
Size: 6.8 x 2.1 x 1.3 cm
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This is a 6.8 cm long floater in perfect condition!
As you can see in the picture, three azurite crystals have grown together lengthwise, resulting in this unique aesthetic.
The quality of the crystals is excellent: Superb luster, lovely surface structure and, in direct backlight, the eponymous azure blue color shows especially strong at the edges! An exceptionally fine specimen of unique aesthetics!
Kattumunnur Mine, Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India
Size: 6 x 4.3 x 3.2 cm
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A delightful little amethyst specimen from a recent find at the Kakamunurle Mine. On the 6 cm rock matrix sits a perfectly developed group of brilliant amethyst crystals measuring around 2.5 cm in total! The amethysts are vividly colored, highly lustrous and show a star-like arrangement, which looks beautiful on the grey granite. Matrix specimens from this locale are particularly rare, especially in such perfection!