Recently Handled Minerals
Pederneira Mine, São José da Safira, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 5.4 x 1.8 x 1.1 cm
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Parallel inter-grown crystals with pyramidal end-points give this "V"-formed shape to the specimen. The crystals are very translucent, they show blue green color with tones of nearly yellow along the end-points. Complete and lustrous all around, only bottom was extracted from the rock. This very unique habit makes the specimen stand out the crowd!
Farm Ameib, Karibib Distr., Erongo, Namibia
Size: 7.1 x 5.5 x 4.2 cm
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A lustrous, thick and sturdy schorl resting on smoky quartz matrix.
Chia Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 7.5 x 4.5 x 4.8 cm
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This is a wonderful non-repaired tourmaline crystal perched on epidolite and feldspar matrix. The bicolour crystal has a flat termination on top and measures 6.9 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm. Great aesthetics and superb condition!
Cavnic Mine (Kapnik), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 3 x 2.2 x 0.8 cm
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A large and sparkling sample of Romanian gold! Backside doesn´t look less attractive, no matrix is involved - 3cm pure Gold in best color and quality.
Serifos Island, Greece
Size: 5.2 x 5.1 x 4.4 cm
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A spray of sharp terminated, semi-lustrous prase-crystals. The shape is really perfect, the piece can be displayed 360°. All crystals are in excellent condition, there are no chips on the terminations. The saturation is also very good, an intense moss-green with some lighter zoning at the top of some crystals.
Sosedka Mine, Malkhan, Siberia, Russia
Size: 5.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm
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Superb rubellite crystal from the recent finds at Malkhan. The crystal is exceptionally clear and totally free of any damage. Minor mica crystals are present in the lower section, also on the lower back side. It has beautiful striations and an amazing termination!
Ganesh Himal, Somdang, Bagmati, Nepal
Size: 7.4 x 5.3 x 2.5 cm
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Japanese twin in this dimension and quality is really exceptional. The crystals show very good clarity, they are sharp terminated and faces are glossy all around. Bottom was on the rock, no significant damages to report.
Kongsberg Silver Mining District, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Size: 3.1 x 2.7 x 2.2 cm
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A superb silver wire on nicely contrasting calcite matrix. As so typical of these, a few acanthites - truly crystals, not just a black crust - grew on the silver wire and add even more beauty and interest. What a killer specimen in toenail size!
Quanzhou, Anxi Co., Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China
Size: 6.8 x 6.8 x 3.6 cm
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A wonderful specimen from recent discoveries at Quanzhou. Most of these crystals are very dark and more opaque. Not so here - the main crystal (27mm across) is waterclear and shows amazing glassy character. I show one phot on light background, that shows the specimen under daylight. The second image was done with minor backlight and reveals this crazy purple-blue color. The crystal is perched perfectly on top of the matrix, all faces show exceptional luster and the shape is just breathtaking. No damage.
Los Lamentos, Mun. de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico
Size: 5.7 x 3.4 x 4.1 cm
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Large and sharp blocky wulfenite crystals forming a wonderful cluster. The biggest crystal atop measures 26 mm on edge, and 10 mm in thickness. The colour is an exceptionally deep and intense odange, the luster is superb al the way around. A few edges show little bruises, these are small and very minor in context though. Great aesthetics and colour!
Graves Mountain, Lincoln Co., Georgia, USA
Size: 6.8 x 4.9 x 4.1 cm
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This is a huge doubly-terminated rutile crystal, super glossy and in great condition all around.
Oberdorf an der Laming, Steiermark, Austria
Size: 5.3 x 1.4 x 1.3 cm
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A very large and very sharp elongated bi-colour crystal of strontianite. A few side crystals and a small dolomite matrix make this an extremely fine sample of the species! As good as crystals of this habit can get! Found in the 1960s, no more crystals have ever reached this extraordinary quality! PUBLISHED IN THE MINERALOGICAL RECORD JAN/FEB 2019, PAGE 811