Composition and crystal quality and overall aesthetics are absolutely amazing on this magnificent garnet specimen! One single spessartine crystal, 2.8 cm in diameter and of cherry red color, is set atop a contrasting white feldspar floater. To fatten things up even more there is a complex doubly terminated schorl at the garnets backside. Absolutely beautiful in person! At the spessartines front tip you can see an old and re-heald chip but which is the only small issue on this otherwise perfect and super-aesthetic specimen!
Apatite, titanite and adularia are all individually situated on a beautiful natural piece of matrix. The glassy apatite aggregate is the focus of the left half. It is highly lustrous and completely flawless with a diameter of 1.2 cm. The right edge of the specimen is dominated by a well shaped adularia with some chloritization. Closer to the center you can see the single titanite crystal, 1.9 cm long and perfect as well. It nicely contrasts against the white and grey matrix and is prominently set right on the upper ridge.
The aesthetics of this specimen is amazingly beautiful: Single isolated crystals of best quality and condition on a highly detailed crystallized matrix!
This breathtaking floater specimen is from a new find and I must say, I haven't seen this kind of combination before: Sparkling green top quality titanite crystals are abundantly set on the characteristic filigree adularia matrix. What's so special here is the glistering addition of metallic hematite that has grown on larger, second generation adularia crystals. This combination of hematite, adularia and titanite is absolutely marvelous, especially due to the high overall quality and the well preserved condition!
Several gemmy red rhodochrosites are set on a characteristic black manganese oxide matrix. The largest crystal is 1.3 cm wide and totally gemmy with striking cherry-red color. It shows a complex shape with great luster and no damage whatsoever. The smaller crystals have somewhat less color but are equally perfect. An overall very beautiful specimen with single isolated crystals on a contrasting matrix!
This cluster of gemmy green titanite crystals is heavily covered with chlorite but shows great gemmy patches and super-lustrous zones, primarily on the larger crystals at the top. The horizontal crystal that is prominent in the picture is 3 cm long, doubly terminated, razor sharp and of absolutely stunning quality. Our picture nicely shows how brilliant zones all over the piece catch the light and reflect it with beautiful apple-green coloring!
Picture one shows the piece with backlight illumination, picture two is in natural light only.
Brazilianite on white feldspar matrix is a rare find, expecially in such beautiful textbook aesthetics! The crystal on this specimen is 2.6 cm long and 1.8 cm broad, flawless and very well defined. The quality is absolutely stunning with a gemmy brazilianite of bright greenish yellow color and great luster.
This outstanding specimen is composed of distinctive interlocked disc-like aggregates of high quality brucite with intenisve color and bright luster! The crystals are translucent, in parts even transparent and show that dark yellow color that sets itself apart from the bulk of pale unremarkable specimens out there. This kind of quality is hard to find, especially in a complete and undamaged floater like this one. Bruce at its best!
Brilliant high quality fluorite crystals of intensive green color are nicely lined up on a feldspar/mica matrix. The crystals are modified octahedrons of superb glassy quality. When looking closely you can see beautiful details. Some of the edges are colored purple and inside the fluorite you can find inclusions of schorl which adds even more life to this vibrant specimen. A stunningly beautiful specimen if best condition!
This fine apatite specimen is a classic from an old collection. The enclosed label dates ot back to 1881!
But it is not only old but beautiful too! A 4.1 cm apatite cluster is set on a dark chlorite matrix with beige-colored feldspar surrounding the main crystals. The apatite comes as transparend colorless crystals with very nice luster and distinctive shape. Some minor damage is present but which is hardly discernible or even much relevant on a historic piece like this!
Val Giuv is not only the type locality for milarite but to this day remains the best locality for this extremely rare mineral worldwide!
The majority of crystals on this rich specimen is green from chlorite inclusions. Near the top however you can find brilliant gemmy colorless crystals in characteristic hexagonal shape. The longest milarite is a bit over 1 cm long. In between the milarite there are several slightly smoky quartz crystals as well as some white fledspar.
This single crystal fluorite has absolutely amazing and brilliant showcase presence! Not only does it impress with its size but also with stunning emerald green color that radiates throughout the whole crystal! Pictures 1 and 2 dispaly it with some backlight while pictures 3 and 4 are in natural light only which is already amazing! The cuboctahedral shape is exceptionally well developed and while the piece has contacts at the bottom and the backside it is without damage. It’s an absolutely stunning crystal in person!
This specimen was found in the 1970s in the historic barite mining tunnel in Oberzeiring which has produced the best barites from Austria. Translucent blueish grey tabular barite with distinctive white edges is three-dimensionally arranged and forms some very nice structures. The piece is in exceptional condition and shows lovely aesthetics!
Ex. Ingeborg & Anton Watzl sen. Coll.