International Minerals
Yangshuo Mine , Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
Size: 7.1 x 5.5 x 3.8 cm
Watch Video
|
||
This cluster of thick pyromorphite crystals has pseudomorph transformed into sky-blue plumbogummite which is unique for this famed locale and the 2014 pocket. The crystals are attractively arranged like fingers on a hand. Some crystals still show remnants of the original pyromorphite which is a nice detail and interesting from the mineralogical point of view. The whole thing is in very best condition and highly attractive for it's sweeping shape and the lovely color!
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan , Pakistan
Size: 8.5 x 7 x 6.8 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This is a flawless and brilliant tourmaline crystal, nested in sparkling white cleavelandite, set on a lustrous white quartz crystal! The piece has nice hand size and just sweeping aesthetics! There is absolutely no damage of any kind! The tourmaline shows best luster, has a distinctive, well developed termination and very good clarity, especially towards the termination. The lower two thirds contain a beautiful dark green to black and opaque core which strongly contrasts with the white cleavelandite! This core penetrates through the matrix and is visible at the bottom where it is broken but completely re-healed. Also the quartz is re-crystallized at the underneath!
Ras Koh Mts., Kharan, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 6.5 x 5.7 x 4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Unlike most specimens from this unique find the „bow tie“ habit epidote aggregates of this specimen are not loose but on matrix which adds much to the overall flavor here! The epidote has some contacts at the back but is all complete and flawless on the front where it displays its unusual shape with best sparkling luster! The matrix around the base is a combination of white calcite and some silvery green byssolite. The specimen is a complete floater and in very good condition all around!
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Huamachuco, Sanchez Carrion, La Libertad, Peru
Size: 6.9 x 2.8 x 2.4 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
It's a rather massive and heavy aggregate of dark red huebnerite with some associated white quartz. The crystals are mostly too dark to illuminate but along the edges and at the protruding main crystal it is possible to shine through and highlight the gemmy red huebnerite. The piece is not quite perfect as there are some broken side-crystals. Fortunately the main crystals are terminated.
Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, South Africa
Size: 20 x 20 x 8.5 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This classic paragenesis is a complete floater that is covered with a rich abundancy of different minerals! Most significant is the very rare gaudefroyite that comes as black and shiny hexagonal prisms many of which are over one centimeter long. Pieces with such a rich display of this rare material are exclusive for the Kalahari manganese fields and thus very much desired. Between black gaudefroyite there is contrasting red andradite, transparent calcite, white barite as well as some metallic black hausmannite at the edge. A classic and characteristic association for the region. Due to the sheer weight of piece some damage is unavoidable but the overall impression is very good and without any major issues.
Tole, Wana, South Waziristan, Pakistan
Size: 12.7 x 6.2 x 5.4 cm
Watch Video
|
||
This is a wild stack of brilliant quartz crystals some of which show the classic "Faden", most others are just very well developed stacky and doubly terminated glassy crystals. The untamed arrangement has its very own charm with attractive showcase presence! Apart from one small damage at the lower backside this specimen is in very best condition. Beautiful and dramatic in person!
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Bolognesi Province, Áncash, Peru
Size: 5.5 x 3.8 x 2.7 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Enargite is a rare species, particularly for the Huanzala Mine which is best known for its superb pyrite specimens and great fluorite. The short prismatic crystals are of metallic grey color with some rust brown coating and minimal weathering. Between the enargite is some pyrite, sparkling golden microcrystals. The overall aesthetics of this rare specimen is just great with no visible damage anywhere!
Mibladen, Midelt, Khenifra Province, Morocco
Size: 10.4 x 9 x 5.9 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
Quality and aesthetics of this large cabinet size specimen are exceptional and outstanding for this material that commonly comes as brown to orange and very often dull crystals. What we see here are bright and gemmy cherry red cog wheels up to 1.5 cm in diameter that are three-dimensionally arranged on a beautiful manganese oxide-coated barite matrix. The individual vanadinites are absolutely spectacular with great luster and striking color that emanates from the gemmy crystals even at low illumination and virtually explodes at direct downlight. Shape, quality and condition are all top notch on this marvelous specimen!
Zard Mts., Kharan, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 4.8 x 4.3 x 2.2 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
A single anatase main crystal of stunning size and quality is attached to a highly attractive and beautifully aesthetic quartz group with characteristic chlorite inclusions. The anatase is a perfect bi-pyriamidal crystal and 1.8 cm long. It shows best luster, is sharp and flawless. The quartz is equally perfect, a floater in fact, and shows wonderful textbook arrangement. Absolutely marvelous in person and one of a kind in respect of aesthetics and perfection!
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Bolognesi Province, Áncash, Peru
Size: 6.2 x 6 x 2.9 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
Searching this piece for the smallest possible flaws with a torchlight got me almost blinded, for the many perfectly mirroring faces of the pyrite. Fortunately I can say this piece is in a superb condition and a formidable sight altogether. The sharp dodecahedral pyrite crystals show just brilliant luster and are accompanied by smaller sphalerite crystals adding some nice accents. A superb piece of exceptional character!
Kambove District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga, D.R. Congo
Size: 4.5 x 3.3 x 2.3 cm
Watch Video
|
||
This miniature features a single carrolite crystal at the center of a white calcite matrix. The calcite is lustrous at the lower parts and covered in a fine layer of chalcopyrite micro crystals further up. The carrolite is a perfect cubo-octahedral crystal of bright silver luster with a size of around 1 cm in diameter. A lovely little specimen of this splendid mineral!
Cavnic Mine, Cavnic, Maramureș Co., Romania
Size: 15.6 x 11 x 9.7 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Quartz from the Cavnic mine is not exactly rare but the unusual shape of these elongated crystals is what makes this specimen stand out from the crowd! All prism faces are highly detailed with smaller short-prismatic crystals that seem to have grown there as a second generation. This attractive growth pattern leaves beautifully sparkling surfaces all over while the terminations are pointed and sharp. This piece is not without damage as there are a couple of broken crystals but if you can live with that this is an attractive, large-sized specimen for a low price!