Mixed Minerals
Laghman Province, Nuristan , Afghanistan
Size: 8 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm
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This lovely sky-blue single crystal tourmaline has quite the presence, supported through glassy quality, luster and most importantly the intriguing termination. Like a crown atop the otherwise uniform crystal the termination is of intensive pink color with a complex architecture and best gemmy quality! The whole specimen is in best condition and really an attractive beauty!
Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Size: 7.5 x 4.4 x 3.3 cm
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Another very nice group!
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This is an outstanding piece from a rare wulfenite find in Mežica, Slovenia. The crystals of carrot-orange color are perched on a beautiful piece of limestone that offers a stark contrast. Some of the crystals are prettily covered with a crust of calcite as if covered in snow. Most special about this specimen is the bipyramidal habit of the wulfenite crystals as is extremely rare! We have in fact seen quite some pieces from this find but specimen of such exceptional elegance are few and far between. A fantastic piece, highly attractive and of superb quality!
Zagi Mountain, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Size: 2.2 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm
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This is a wonderful exemplar of the rare mineral bastnäsite. The crystal shows a satiated oragnge-brown color and is limpid. The termination is complete and undamaged. Also the bottom is crystallized and despite a contact at the lower backside there is nothing to worry about at this specimen. A rare marvel of superb quality!
Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Size: 7.1 x 6.7 x 4.6 cm
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Elba Island is one of the great classical localities of Europe and has produce a great many different minerals over the centuries. While, as type locality of elbaite, Elba is primarily known for fine tourmaline specimens, many other great mineral specimens have been unearthed here. This pristine hematite, embedded in a nest of fine white quartz, is a shiny example for a recent find producing such high quality classics. The main crystal is like a dark, shiny pearl, aesthetically centered between white quartz needles and a massy black hematite slab. The metallic luster has a red tinge to it, revealed at closer inspection under direct downlight. This is a great hematite specimen that is in overall well condition. Yes, there is a dinge at the main crystal (not as dramatic as it might look at first glance) that drops the price here but if you can live with that, you will be delighted by the excellent aesthetics of this wonderful piece!
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 8.2 x 6.1 x 5 cm
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This tourmaline is embedded in a single translucent quartz crystal of some yellowish color that very much emphasizes the multicolor tourmaline! It is 6 cm long and displays fine color zoning from bottom to top: The lower third is a very dark green or blue. The middle section turns from apple-green to white and pink. Top third is a bright turquois, completely gemmy and almost free of internal cracks. The whole crystal is lustous and charming with a superb pointed termination. There is no damage to be reported. Cracks in the tourmaline are held together by the quartz protects the crystal and keeps it whole. Unusual, distinctive and beautiful as a piece of art!
Laghman Province, Nuristan , Afghanistan
Size: 7.5 x 2.2 x 1.5 cm
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Pure elegance, combining marvelous colors with beautiful shape and bright luster is the stunning nature of this tourmaline specimen. The termination is nicely modified and offers a great view with mirroring faces and fine structure. The tourmalines color changes from pink to turquoise at the center and back to pink at the termination. It is free of damage with a rehealed bottom. A wonderful and classy piece of remarkable character.
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Bolognesi Province, Áncash, Peru
Size: 5.5 x 4.7 x 3.4 cm
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A panel of glassy, sharp and very well developed barite freely protrudes from a small piece of dolomite matrix. The piece has a much more 3-dimensional feeling than the picture would suggest so for a better view I recommend our video! The crystal - or rather the two crystals, as those are in fact two parallel panels - are of best quality, highly lustrous on all sides and with only one rehealed chip at the gap between the crystals. With 4.5 cm length the barite is remarkably large for the locale and dominant on the specimen. Absolultely appealing in person!
Herja Mine, Chiuzbaia, Baia Mare, Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 10.8 x 7.2 x 6.1 cm
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Five elongated quartz crystals are fanning out like shiny white fingers. Especially the largest crystal is heavily supported by black sphalerite which provides the perfect contrast and spectacular aesthetics! The single quartz fingers are at closer inspection clusters of hundreds of small crystals which makes for a fantastically lovely surface. A sparkling, 3-dimensional sculpture that is perfect on all sides and rich in so many beautiful details!
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA
Size: 16.9 x 11.2 x 9.7 cm
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A large cluster of brilliant scalenohedral calcite that is crystallized on all sides. Only the bottom is contacted, the rest is all complete and in near perfect condition. Several doubly terminated crystals, the largest of which is 12.5 cm long(!), are sitting atop a more massive but evenly sparkling calcite body. The mostly transparent crystals are milky white at the inside but intensively orange-brown "cognac" colored at the completely gemmy edges. An imposing, characteristic specimen for the famous Elmwood Mine, one of the worlds best localities for high class calcite!
Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Size: 8.5 x 6.9 x 4.5 cm
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This fluorite is pretty untypical for the location and actually I was surprised when I saw it the first time. Though, I had no other idea on my own! I got this in trade from Martin Gruell, a well-known and educated collector of fluorites in Austria, who has confirmd the location. It has great aesthetics and shows very intense purple color under lights! Except a small contact, it is pristine all around!
Cisma Mine, Baiu?, Maramure? Co., Romania
Size: 9.3 x 5.7 x 4.2 cm
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The thick, blocky stibnite crystals on this specimen are quite characteristic for the Cisma Mine. Still, this classic old European piece has exceptionally fine aesthetics. The metallic black stibnite is gracefully arranged on a contrasting white barite matrix of perfect proportion. While the backside is somewhat contacted, the front is completely unharmed and nicely crystallized all over. Very 3-dimensional and statuesque!