International Minerals 47
Erongo Mts., Karibib Constituency, Namibia
Size: 11 x 9.3 x 5.8 cm
Watch Video
|
||
While both fluorite and aquamarine aren’t exactly rare at the Erongo region, but it is the combination of both which makes this specimen special and unique.
Individual pieces with this combination are known and have been found since the year 2000. However, the vast majority is relatively clumsy and unappealing.
This specimen is from a new find and it exceeds everything that we have seen so far.
It has the sweeping aesthetics of a crown of bright green fluorites over a three-dimensional stack of aquamarines.
The fluorites are exceptionally brigth green and show the characteristic purple eges which makes it particularly vibrant!
Especially if you add some backlight it really glows!
The crystals are all undamaged. The backside is contacted but not broken.
The aquamarine crystals show distinctive blue color, they are lustrous and glassy and have flat terminations.
This is a remarkably three-dimensional specimen with an appealing richness of crystals, all interlocked and adding to the overall aesthetics.
Dara-i-Pech pegmatite field, Chapa Dara District, Kunar, Afghanistan
Size: 4.8 x 4.6 x 3 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This rare specimen features a solid manganotantalite crystal with a size of 3.1 x 2.3 x 1.6 cm on matrix. The crystal is hard to illuminate, but close to the surface it shows the beautiful wine-red color that is so characteristic for the mineral. It has a vivid surface structure and sits centrally on a white feldspar matrix. Our video gives a very good impression of this remarkable, massive and all together stunning crystal.
Onganja Mine, Seiss, Windhoek Rural, Khomas, Namibia
Size: 6 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm
Watch Video
|
||
The shape of this unusual copper specimen is really special and exceptionally lively, almost like a firn but in a shimmering brown color. The details are amazingly rich all around and definitely reward a look with the loop or microscope!
Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 5.9 x 4.2 x 3.2 cm
Watch Video
|
||
Two sharp and gemmy spessartine crystals are single isolated set on a beautifully crystallized white albite matrix. The larger one has a diameter of 1.2 cm and is flawless. The smaller on has 0.8 cm and is perfect as well. A piece of wonderful aesthetics and striking crystal quality!
Golconda Mine, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 4.9 x 2.7 x 1.6 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
This is an extremely rare combination of bertrandite on schorl from the Golconda Mine in Brazil.
Bertrandite is a beryllium hydroxide that is commonly found in beryllium rich pegmatites.
But however common the material might be, it is extremely hard to find in a nice crystallized shape.
The Golconda mine is the only known source for Brazilian bertrandite. First finds were reported in 1992 but have bee scarce ever since.
This specimen is from a new find and it is not only lovely but also completely unique.
The piece features a flawless 3.4 cm bertrandite on a straight 4.9 cm schorl crystal.
The schorl is undamaged and lustrous. From the backside you can see that it has a side crystal which makes it even more attractive.
The contrast of pearlescent white bertrandite and jet-black schorl, the superb quality and the unique aesthetics of this specimen is extremely appealing in person.
Mogok Township, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
Size: 9.2 x 5 x 3.8 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
A single strikingly red ruby crystal is set on a crystallized white calcite matrix which strongly emphasizes the ruby! Despite being a rather flat crystal it still amazes with a deep blood-red color which is rare an immensely beautiful in person. The crystal has very best luster and a characteristic surface structure. With a diameter of 1.6 cm it's acurally quite remarkable. The over 9 cm long matrix leaves it some room to breathe while being lovely and beautiful itself. An amazing specimen overall with magnificent crystal quality and impressive elegance!
Ampanivana pegmatite, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Size: 6.1 x 3.3 x 2.9 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Liddicoatite is a rare member of the tourmaline group and almost exclusive to Madagascar with particularly important occurances in the Betafo district. This magnificent crystals is doubly terminated, very well defined, flawless and with a fantatic color! Yes, the crystal needs some backlight to really shine, but once previded it glows with the most brilliant strawberry red and apple green color! The surface is somewhat etched and has some small feldspar attached to it which adds a natural feel. The termination on the other had is well defined, sharp and lustrous. A marvelous single crystal liddicoatite with no downsides!
Nagar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 6.3 x 5.8 x 5.6 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
|
|
Not only does this single octahedral fluorite have sparkling brilliance on all sides but it is also completely flawless which is extremely rare and hard to come by!
The modified surface is highly lustrous and glistening. The interior is clear as glass and has a delicate pink color!
The crystal is set on a cluster of silvery muscovite which is also complete and flawelss and without even a contact. We have hardly ever seen a crystal of such brilliance coming from Pakistan!
'Mbumba, Pimbi hill, Mindouli District, Pool Dept., Republic of the Congo
Size: 9 x 6 x 3.8 cm
Watch Video
|
||
The crystal quality on this magnificently sparkling specimen is really top notch! Highly brilliant with a very intense dark color and completely undamaged!
The dioptases sit on a matrix that is in parts coated with the extremely rare copper silicate Plancheite, which offers a wonderful color contrast and amazing beauty!
Compared to such famous sites as Tsumeb or Reneville, Pimbi Hill with the 'Mbumba Mine is much lesser-known.
Work at the Mbumba mine began in the early 80's and produced a moderate number of excellent dioptase specimens, often in combination with plancheite.
However, the mine was never operated continuously and stood still for a long time. More recent finds did not come onto the market again until 2012-2013. This piece comes from the old finds of the 80s and has been in the collection of the copper mineral collector Thomas Weiland from Vienna.
Miram Shah Tribal Area, North Waziristan, Pakistan
Size: 10.8 x 6 x 4.5 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
One single white thread, the "Faden", stretches from bottom to top and connects a rich number of sparkling, sharp and gemmy quartz crystals to an amazingly beautiful and sweeping sculpture! This specimen is pristine all around and in great condition with only one small damage at the backside. With a doubly terminated and freely attached crystal at the top this specimen really standy out with beautiful aesthetics!
Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Region, Russia
Size: 9.9 x 8.4 x 7.4 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
It's a compact combination of golden chalcopyrite and jet-black sphalerite. With a size of 9.9 cm and a weight of 950 grams it is quite heavy and massive. Sphalerite and chalcopyrite are heavily interlocked which creates a nice play of contrast. The piece is crystallized all around with some contacted zones around the base but no damage.
Berbes Mining area, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Size: 11.7 x 11.1 x 8.1 cm
Watch Video
|
|
|
The berbes mining area holds a reputation as a source for rich and beautiful pink or purple fluorites with sometimes spectacular quality and aesthetics!
This remarkable specimen is one of those examples that come with impressive showcase presence all over, featuring marvelous dark purple color, wonderful contrast and dominant size!
The fluorites are nested cubes with a transparent interior and a silky shiny surface.
All crystals are in outstandingly good condition with only very few tiny abrasions.
The white barite and the shiny white quartz provide a very nice contrast and superb composition!
In fact, the fluorites's color depends very much on the light. While the crystals tend to be blue in natural light, they show intense magenta in warm artificial light!
Both the beautiful color and quality of the fluorites as well as the overall composition are absolutely impressive.
Due to its dramatic character, it undoubtedly stands out from other Berbes fluorites that we have seen in the past.