Mixed Minerals
Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
Size: 6.1 x 3.2 x 5.5 cm
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The color of this dioptase is very much intriguing and, as I have to admit, definitely much fresher and brighter than we were able to capture on the picture (green is always difficult to naturally photograph). There is sparkling luster and gemminess all over this compact dioptase surface that shows no damage, only some peripheral contacts. Very attractive in person!
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An apatite floater of stacked excellence! Glassy and lustrous crystals of best modified hexagonal shape are 3-dimensionally clustered upon each other to form this sculpturesque specimen! The whole piece is in very best condition with only one small damage but which is not visible from the front and hardly discernible anyway. Very attractive in person and of best quality this is an unusual beauty all around!
Fazenda do Centro, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Size: 9 x 4.1 x 1.6 cm
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Glassy, colorless topaz, shaped like a flame and brilliantly lustrous all around! This etched topaz floater has the amazing rich structure this unique find is known for and is, save for some small abrasions, in best condition. It is a smaller exemplar of that one-time find but stunning nevertheless!
2nd Sovetskii Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
Size: 10.5 x 7.3 x 4.8 cm
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Dal'negorsk delivered a bright viarity of different calcites. In my opinion this crystal is one of the most beautiful specimens, in question of it's shape. The second generation of smaller crystals are showing a very sharp termination with many stripes in it, what looks very lovely in person. It is a floater all around without any damage.
Turt Mine, Turt Negresti-Oas, Oas Mts, Satu Mare Co., Romania
Size: 7.6 x 6.6 x 5.8 cm
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A rich and beautiful aggregate of tabular, glassy barite on galena. The barite is of yellowish color, superbly lustrous and 3-dimensionally arranged like flower petals. This fine specimen is in 360° best condition where even the smaller crystals are undamaged. A just wonderful and elegant piece that is much better in person!
Cerro Warihuyn, Miraflores, Huamalíes Province, Huánuco Department, Peru
Size: 12.3 x 9.6 x 5.5 cm
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Thick and well defined tabular barite of honey yellow color on a dark brown matrix. The barite is 3-dimensionally arranged on the matrix with the largest crystal - 4.7 cm on edge and 0.9 cm thick - nicely standing out and presenting itself. All crystals show best luster and are perfectly gemmy. There is some edgewear scattered across this piece but most of which is old and rehealed. Sheer size, color and quality are a stunning combination on this rich and impressive specimen!
Hematita, Antônio Dias, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 6.4 x 4.9 x 2.2 cm
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Brilliant and water-clear! This is an absolutely charming yellowish topaz floater of best luster and quality. The irregular shape is enclosed by many beautiful and mirroring faces. Its edges are not quite perfect but which is not much disturbing. A jewel of exceptionally fine visual impact!
Morenci Mine, Copper Mountain District, Shannon Mts, Greenlee Co., Arizona, USA
Size: 7.8 x 7.5 x 4.3 cm
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Beautiful interlocked deep blue rosettes of azurite are grown on a contrasting light green malachite matrix which looks rather typical for the locale. The azurite shows very fine blades, it is in best condition and has nice (not exceptional but still very good) luster. A beautiful specimen overall that has very distinct aesthetics!
ex Martin Zinn collection.
Jean Baptiste Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavrion mining district, Lavreotiki, Attica, Greece
Size: 6.7 x 5.9 x 1.5 cm
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The Jean Baptiste mine is one of four interconnected mines near the village of Agios Konstantinos. Another one of those mines is the Serpieri Mine which is the type locality of glaucocerinite, an extremely rare mineral that can only be found in a handfull of mines worldwide! The mineral displays intensive turquoise-blue color on a surface of botryoidal crystals with a waxy luster. This floater shard is covered on front and backside in glaucocerinite and is largely intact. Beautiful bright color and the sheer rarity makes this specimen special!
Camissinone Mine, Zogno, Brembana Valley, Bergamo Province, Lombardy, Italy
Size: 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 cm
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The majority of fluorites from this important locale are of the purple, usually cubical sort. This is a nice greenish stack of heavily modified crystals that presents a much more rounded shape which is uncommon and lovely on this miniature. The whole construct is in outstanding condition. Very nice in person!
Monte Prosa, Central St. Gotthard Massif, Tessin (Ticino), Switzerland
Size: 4.5 x 3.4 x 1.3 cm
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Marvelous, blinding luster mirrors the light like a disco ball - much better than the picture can possibly show!
This piece is a real stunner that shows no damage or contacts at all. The backside is encrusted with some chlorite but even that does not completely obscure the brilliant quality of this hematite specimen. At the lower right there is a small glassy quartz crystal that is evenly perfect with a crystallized bottom.
Lovely aesthetics meets superb quality!
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan , Pakistan
Size: 8.5 x 7 x 6.8 cm
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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!