International Minerals 55
Erongo Mts., Karibib Constituency, Namibia
Size: 6.5 x 4 x 2.5 cm
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This is a captivating combination of quartz and ilmenite from the Erongo Mountains. Not only is the aesthetics extremely appealing, but also quality and condition are outstanding. The quartz is completely undamaged and overgrown with fine Schorl crystals on the back, all natural and complete. The ilmenite aggregate is extremely beautiful and sits at the front of the main crystal, held by a smaller secondary crystal. Typical for the site, the ilmenite has a coating of matte, orange oxide. A rare combination, especially in such beautiful shape.
Merelani Mine, Arusha, Tanzania
Size: 2.3 x 2.2 x 1.6 cm
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Chrome-tourmaline from the Merelani Hills is quite the rarity. The chromium bearing variety of green dravite and exists almost exclusively in Tanzania.
This one is well defined and in very good condition.
The edges are somewhat rough but have hardly any discernible chips.
As you might imagine, the most impressive feature of this crystal is the stunning green color.
Provide some backlight and the color will pop right out, even more stunning than the famous green of Colombian emeralds!
This rare specimen was in the collection of Wilhelm Niemetz (Vienna) for decades, a label is included with the piece.
Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy
Size: 9.4 x 7.7 x 5.9 cm
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A massive hematite specimen from the historic locale at Elba Island. It shows characteristic solid hematite blades with metallic black luster. There are several contacted or damaged zones around the piece but there is still a rich multitude of sharp and well defined hematite crystals present!
Boekenhoutshoek area, Nkangala District, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Size: 6.5 x 4.5 x 4.1 cm
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Even rarer than the well known purple cactus-quartz from Boekenhoutshoek is the yellow variant which makes for a stunning contrast if you put them together in your showcase!
These crystals are highly lustrous, sharp and translucent to transparent. The bright color is caused by inclusions of hematite and goethite and is really intensive here! The piece is from a collection in South Africa where it has been for over 20 years. Quality and condition are totally outstanding!
Tenkergin Mine, Iul'tinskiy Mining Complex, Iultinsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
Size: 4.4 x 4 x 2.1 cm
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The Tenkergin mine is an extremely remote locality in far northeastern Siberia, not far from Alaska.
Notable finds have been in the 1980s and emerged on the market after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
This 4.4 cm crystal was in the collection of Dr. Eduard Lopatka for many years. A Label is included with the piece. It is a single scheelite octahedron, well shaped, nicely lustrous and translucent with intensive dark orange color. Very nice all over and in excellent condition. The backside is contacted and re-crystallized.
Pomba pit, Serra das Éguas, Brumado, Bahia, Brazil
Size: 2.3 x 1.9 x 1.1 cm
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This lovely little uvite from the Pomba pit is a real jewel! The single short prismatic, almost tabular tourmaline is sharply developed and has beautiful and gemmy mossy green color. The crystal is set on what appears to be white and transparent dolomite. A complete floater in very best condition.
Fazenda do Centro, Castelo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Size: 14.7 x 12.3 x 7 cm
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This large and heavy etched topaz is quite dominant with a bright glassy interior!
At the base it has an interesting structure that looks as if some thin tabular mineral was grown into the topaz but it might as well be some form of dissolving pattern.
The upper two thirds of the crystal are clear and with lovely etchings and beautifully structured surface.
This piece has a damage on the left side as well as some abrasions but despite these issues itis still a very impressive exemplar from this spectacular one-time find near Fazenda do Centro in Brazil.
Tormiq valley, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Size: 5.6 x 1.8 x 0.6 cm
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Epidote from the Alpine type clefts of Pakistan are a well known species that impresses with gemmy quality and a multitude of different shapes!
This doubly terminated specimen is in excellent condition and very well defined.
Galdino mine, Medina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 5.1 x 3 x 2.8 cm
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This apatite is from a new lot of very nice specimens from the Galdino mine near Median. Most exciting about this specimen is the beautiful combination of different minerals. The main 3.3 cm long apatite is associated with snow white feldspar and it is set on some blocky black mica. The main apatite is well developed and flawless all around. At the inside it shows a landscape, embedded in clear, yellowish green apatite.
Hashupi Mine, Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan
Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.9 cm
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The exact locale where this fascinating quartz was found is the Hashupi mine in the high altitude Alpine type clefts of Pakistan. This floater specimen has a total size of 5.5 cm and shows beautiful glassy and highly lustrous quality. It is a cluster of several interlocked crystals, all in excellent condition with only very minimal wear. It’s a stunning piece in person, a real jewel of best quality and sweeping shape!
Tses Baryte Prospect, Brukkaros Complex, Berseba Townlands Farm 426, ll Karas Region, Namibia
Size: 8.5 x 4.7 x 4.2 cm
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We got this unusual baryte specimen out of a collection in Namibia. Among a group of very nice baryte crystals this is the only one that's actually on matrix. A single close to 5 cm long crystal is perched on a matrix that is a mix of crystallized baryte (short crystals that are broken but re-crystallized) and rock matrix. If you turn the piece upside down you can see that the barytes are re-crystallized even there. This specimen must have come out of the earth just like it is. The main crystal itself is exceptionally gemmy, lustrous, well defined and in flawless condition right up to the pyramidal termination.
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 4.6 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm
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This single tourmaline crystal impresses with its top-notch quality. It's gemmy, highly lustrous, color-intensive, and displays an exceptionally complex termination. The color, as you can see in the picture and video, is mostly green with a pink zone at the tip and at the very base. However, when viewing the piece in natural light, the green appears much more nuanced. Suddenly, the color transitions from an emerald green center to a bluish turquoise, which is truly extraordinarily beautiful to behold.