One complete and flawless fluorite octahedron is beautifully presented on a characteristic piece of Zinggenstock-matrix. The fluorite is pink and translucent to even transparent and it is very well defined. It has sharp edges while the crystal faces themselves are etched. A beautiful and aesthetic single crystal specimen from this classic locale!
This piece features a single 9.2 cm long quartz sitting aesthetically on a piece of matrix overgrown with fine calcite. The crystal is transparent, lustrous, sharp-edged and in excellent condition. Only at one point on the backside, where an internal crack reaches the surface, a small ding is visible. Through the crystal runs a distinctive white "faden". The corresponding growth irregularity can also be seen on the surface. Take a look on our video for a better impression!
A very interesting and appealing specimen is this wonderful magnetite from Imilchil, Morocco. The piece has a rich number of magnetites up to 1,5 cm on edge. The matrix is basically a mix of orthoclase and limonite, which makes for a beautiful contrast to the metallic black magnetite. The condition here is extremely well and the aesthetics is highly appealing! The crystals are sharp, lustrous and well shaped.
A lovely little quartz group that I like extremely well in terms of composition, but also for its excellent quality. The piece features a central main crystal aesthetically framed by secondary crystals. On the right side, two crystals protrude a little further, which gives the whole thing an attractive asymmetry. The back is a bit rough, but not broken. A brilliant little specimen in overall splendid condition!
This is one of the best quartz specimens I am aware of the Austrian Alps. The Rauris valley is famous for producing quartz specimens. Most of the crystals which have been found there are not balanced very well or just have big contacts, no luster or bad damage. This specimen is different, it has great luster, aesthetics and is in combination with well crystallized pericline. The impressive crystal in combination with the pericline makes this specimen to a true killer from the Austrian Alps. The collector Alois Steiner found this specimen around 40 years ago while my father, a collector of Austrian minerals, bought it from him in 2003. Since then, it has been one of the center pieces in his collection. He decided to let this piece go just because he has got a very similar substitute last summer. Normally it is impossible to get such a good quality on a specimen of this caliber. Better in person!
When I got this marvel out of the lab I was totally overwhelmed! The rather large hematite rose dramatically sits atop a white contrasting albite matrix of stunning sparkling quality. The hematite itself is 3.3 cm in diameter and massive 1.2 cm thick, all perfect and of brilliant luster. I totally love the aesthetics of this very well balanced piece that is a real eye-catcher in person and free of any damage. If you look closely you can even make out some small apple green titanite among the albite. Absolutely outstanding and impressive!
What a stunning floater! This specimen is perfect all around and has the best luster you can look for. It is in combination with very nice crystals of muscovite. It's very 3-dimensionals in person.
A very fine group of quartz with the best quality you can get. The crystals are very nice situated on the brownish matrix which makes a very good contrast. The whole specimen is pristine all around.
This is a very sharp quartz with great inclusions of actinolithe from the bottom to the top. The specimen is very glassy in person, sadly this is not very good visible on the photos. The luster of the crystal is very good and also the aesthetic with the small crystals at the side is very special. The whole specimen is free of any damage and it is much better in person! Ex Herb Obodda collection.
The crystals on this matrix specimen are very sparkling and highly lustrous in person! The color is a mixture between grey and blue, what looks gorgeous in person. Very 3-dimensional and free of any damage!
This is a very good quartz from the famous Rauris Valley! Some very nice crystals of pericline are attached to the matrix and gives the piece a very special character.
A beautiful specimen of highly lustrous fluorite cubes with great purple color and very nice phantoms inside. It is in combination with small quartz and white barite which makes for a fantastic aesthetics. As you can see in our video the piece is crystallized all around and in very best condition. Color contrast, sparkling luster and a sweeping architecture all add for this exceptional Berbes fluorite specimen!