Recently Handled Minerals
Alnif, Tarhbalt, Er Rachidia Province, Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
Size: 15 x 7.8 x 7.2 cm
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Wonderful quartz crystals with red hematite inclusions. Great condition and highly attractive composition!
Bergsig Farm 167 (Hohenstein), Omaruru District, Erongo Region, Namibia
Size: 4.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 cm
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From a famous discovery, which produced a low number of specimen crystalized in a special habit - spinel-law twinning. The colour is light blue in the center, and lavender in the outer zones. Along the edges you can see darker zoning, which tend to very deep violet. The crystal is resting on a small white plate of feldspat. It is complete and well formed all around. The saturation is better than average and also quality and clarity are remarkable for this find. The composition of the two freestanding crystals is very aesthetic! No significant damages to report.
Planggenstock, Göschenertal, Kanton Uri, Switzerland
Size: 7.5 x 6 x 5.8 cm
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Wonderful pink fluorites perched on matrix! Great colour and composition, the white granite matrix sets indeed a beautiful contrast. All the crystals are in perfect condition.
Knappenwand, Untersulzbachtal, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 6.8 x 3.7 x 2.7 cm
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Superb epidote on bysolite floater crystal cluster! The epidotes show magnificent luster, as well as clarity and the typical olive colour when backlight. All crystals in the front are undamaged, just one small crystal in the rear side is not terminated. This is, however, insignificant and not at all visible from the front side. This piece comes from the fecent mining period and is one of the very best floater combination specimens found in recent years!
Sidi Lahcen Mine, Nador, Morocco
Size: 8.9 x 8.7 x 7.2 cm
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Admittedly thousands of baryte specimens have been found at Nador the last couple of years, but only very few of this beauty and excellent composition! A spray of doubly terminated crystals is perched on a nicely contrasting dark brown gossan matrix. Minor damage is present on a few side crystals on the back side, however, this is on the rear side only and does not affect any of the main display angles, as shown on the three pictures above. An amazing specimen that will for sure be considered an important "classic" piece in the future.
Rosia Poieni Mine, Mușca, Lupșa Commune, Alba, Romania
Size: 5.3 x 2.4 x 1.2 cm
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The only compareable quality of vivianite in entire Europe came from Trepca - and crystal size was not larger than 2,5 to 3cm. From Romania I have seen some samples from Herja and Nistru Baita - tiny opaque stuff. I drop over the floor when I saw this new material; it is simply incredible. The dimension, the quality, the luster and this fantastic colour! This piece is from a recent discovery in spring 2019. In my evaluation one of the most relevant, the most important discoveries in entire Europe since decades or even for a century. The faces are highly lustrous and some intergrown light matrix helps to give more contrast to this exceptional crystal. Along the faces of the end-point you can see some modifications, which make this outstanding crystal even more special.
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 3.8 x 1.3 x 1.1 cm
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Superb classic watermelon tourmaline crystal from an old find. Great colours and condition.
Fibbia, Tessin, Switzerland
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 1.8 cm
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A raelly fantastic thumbnail with a sharp terminated iron rose on a well shaped, snowy white adularia crystal. The iron rose shows mirror-like luster and the adularia is also very glossy. The assemble couldn´t show any better aesthetics. No damage.
Söllnkar, Krimmler Achental, Hohe Tauern, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 6 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm
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This piece features a sharp and glossy augite crystal right in the center of white, bladed albite crystals. What a pleasing contrast! From an old find, no more of these are being found.
Mörchnerkar, Zemmgrund, Zillertal, Tirol, Austria
Size: 4.6 x 3.8 x 4.2 cm
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Amazing ironrose perched on mica and schist matrix! The luster is exceptionally fine on the front faces, the side faces are slightly coated by chlorite. The piece is very aesthetic and in great condition on all sides. Collected 2015.
Sferlun, Val Malenco, Lombardia, Italy
Size: 3 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm
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A sharp and lustrous 8 mm demantoide on schist matrix. No damage.
Brown's Prospect, Rum Jungle, Batchelor, Coomalie Shire, Northern Territory, Australia
Size: 13.3 x 8.2 x 4.9 cm
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The specimen is from a discovery in 2010, the so called "Pizza Pocket". Well shaped spheres of dark green malachite are covered with tiny yellow-green, sharp terminated and sparkling pyromorphite crystals. The piece shows a very 3-dimensional composition and good contrast, the dimension is remarkable. No significant damages to report.