International Minerals
Ogonja Mine, Ogonja, Khomas Region, Namibia
Size: 2.5 x 2.4 x 1.7 cm
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Already at the usual showcase light you can see blood-red reflections from inside this fine single cuprite crystal. Adding direct illumination from the back brings out the full extent of splendour this striking specimen has to offer and leaves you - trust me - gasping for breath! Yes, the core stays black but the top half is all just sheer color and gemminess. The crystal is very sharp and, while at the bottom contacted, virtually flawless. A marvelous piece for the copper mines of Ogonja!
Kakamunurle Mine, Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India
Size: 3 x 2.9 x 1.7 cm
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This is a jewel of utter brilliance! In the mid 2000s a relatively small number of high class, mostly miniature sized specimens were found at the Kakamunurle Mine near Karur. The crystals, commonly sceptres, are known for their superb quality as you can very well see on this specimen. Intensively purple, glassy amethyst sceptres are crowded atop a floater piece of colorless quartz. At the center is a flat structure of quartz with layers of hematite which adds a unique look to this sparkling specimen. Very attractive in person as you can easily see in our video!
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Huamachuco, Sanchez Carrion, La Libertad, Peru
Size: 3.8 x 3.1 x 2.5 cm
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Very sharp, gemmy and dinstinctly apple green augelite crystals are arranged on a white, crystallized quartz matrix. The largest crystal has 0.9 cm on edge and is set prominently at the highest position. All augelite crystals are in best condition. A rough patch at the main crystals front face seems more like a contact than an actual damage. All edges, also on the smaller side-crystals, are razor-sharp! Nice specimen with unusually intensive color and very well developed crystals!
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Québec, Canada
Size: 8.1 x 6.1 x 4.5 cm
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A sparkling masterpiece of brilliant vesuvianite from the famous Jeffrey Quarry which produced so many of those fantastic specimens until it was finally closed down in 2002. The crystals are of gemmy quality, sharp and show a beautiful combination of apple green and purple. A lot of the crystals are doubly terminated, show superb luster and rich open colors. The color combination and composition of this piece are absolutely superb and overwhelmingly attractive. Highest quality meets a striking outline and 360° of perfection!
Andaychagua Mine, San Cristobal District, Yauli Province, Junín Department, Peru
Size: 4.9 x 4.1 x 3 cm
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This piece is from a very small find of wire-silver at the Andaychagua Mine, a commercial mine for zinc, lead, copper and silver. The white quartz matrix is interwoven with bright silver veins that reappear on all sides and sweepingly reach out as thing threads and feather-like structures. Very nice and three-dimensional with tons of beautiful details!
Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 4.6 x 3.7 x 3 cm
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Two short prismatic and highly lustrous vesuvianite crystals are perched on a rust brown matrix. The vesuvianite is sharp and of dark brown color that is hard to illuminate but shows some gemmy patches along the surface! Associated with the vesuvianite is some sparkling feldspar and small vesuvianite side-crystals. The aesthetics of this piece is definitely striking and extremely well developed. All crystals are in perfect condition and beautiful in their own mysterious and elegant way!
Uchucchacua Mine, Province de Oyon, Peru
Size: 7.7 x 5.9 x 3.1 cm
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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!
Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 5.3 x 4.5 x 1 cm
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A flawless pure brucite specimen of distinctive outline and wonderful yellow color! Both sides of the flat specimen are lustrous and nicely crystallized which leaves absolutely no downside on this fine specimen!
Riemvasmaak, Kakamas, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Size: 8.9 x 7.7 x 5.7 cm
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Quality and shape are absolutely spectacular on this unusual fluorite specimen! Glassy and intensively green fluorite octahedrons are stacked upon each other with the largest crystals at the bottom and the smaller crystals atop. What's most unusual here is the 2-dimensional arrangement of the smaller octahedrons: Like a wall made of fluorite bricks! This flat structure makes it very easy for the ligth to enter from the back and illuminate the piece. A stunning piece in person and in marvelous condition all around! The shape quite obviously reminds of a little bunnies which is what we call the piece here at Saphira Minerals: "The Bunny"
Laghman Province, Nuristan , Afghanistan
Size: 10.5 x 2.1 x 2 cm
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With an imposing length of over 10 cm this is an absolutely stunning piece. Not repaired and in best condition! The tourmaline is very much gemmy, especially towards the complex pyramidal termination. The color is a combination of beautiful pastel pink and blue. Not as striking at first glance but even the more lovely if you give it a closer look! The whole specimen is a composition of gemminess, attractive colors and elegant shape, covered in brightly sparkling luster.
Ampanivana pegmatite, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Size: 5.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 cm
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This liddicoatite from the rich pegmatite fields of Madagascar is a complete floater that's crystallize on top and bottom with some white feldspar loosely distributed over all surfaces. The crystal is translucent and when provided with some backlight it reveals a beautiful strawberry red upper half, while the lower half has some apple green patches too. In picture 1 you can see the crystal with artificial backligth, picture 2 shows it in natural light only. A great single crystal of superb natural appearance and in outstanding condition!
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The color, the brilliance, the shape. All fits together on this marvelous tourmaline specimen! Especially the green upper half strikes with super-gemmy quality that concludes in a fascinating polyhedral termination! Smaller side-crystals and some white feldspar at the back add some more flavor to the tourmaline and make it a visually appealing specimen of very individual character. Best quality and condition!