Recently Handled Minerals
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
Size: 6.8 x 3.7 x 2.1 cm
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Superb doubly-terminated sceptre amethyst with sidecars. The first generation is an amethyst of deep purple colour, the second generation shows a lovely smoky hue. No siginficant damage.
Okorusu Mine, Otjiwarongo District, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
Size: 5.9 x 5.4 x 1.9 cm
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A cluster with a cross-formed modified main crystal. This crystal is nearly colorless, but it shows an intense violet irregular phantom in the center. This material was discovered in limited quantity around 2010. Okorusu fluorites are too darned common - but this material is NOT common at all. No significant damages to report, backside was on the rock.
Cruzeiro Mine, São José da Safira, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 7.7 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm
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This is a group of two super clear and super-glossy tourmaline crystals in almost parallel growth. The colour is incredibly open and bright, much brighter than any of the famous "Rocket Pocket" pieces from Pederneira mine. Both termnations show mulitple bevels, and they are both in pristine condition. Just one small sidecar crystal on the rear side is not terminated. Superb quality and very showy from all sides!
Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Size: 9.8 x 6.4 x 4.7 cm
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This specimen features a large group of gemmy, sharp dioptases in the center of matrix and set on white calcite layer. The specimen shows really a wonderful contrast! The intense green crystals are up to 13 mm across and all prominent crystals are intact. No significant damages to report.
Muzo Mine, Vasquez-Yacopí Mining District, Boyacá Dept., Colombia
Size: 5.8 x 4.1 x 3.8 cm
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This is a very dramatic piece with a central emerald flanked by sharp terminated lustrous Calcite crystals. The large main crystal is of top color and glassy luster, and is very large for such a specimen. It is entirely transparent throughout, though with small internal cluods as usual in a specimen. The habit shows a lot of details and sharp terminated modifications. The smaller side crystals are not of less quality. In excellent condition damage-wise. What a gorgeous sample from this well-known locality!
Grieswies, Rauris, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 10 x 5.8 x 2.8 cm
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Highly brilliant rutile crystals to 20 mm in length on nicely contrasting calcite matrix! The rutiles feature beautiful striations and are all doubly terminated. No damage.
Mörchnerkar, Zemmgrund, Zillertal, Tirol, Austria
Size: 6.2 x 5.3 x 4.8 cm
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Nice ironrose cluster on mica matrix. No damage.
Göschener Alp, Göschenen, Uri, Switzerland
Size: 6.3 x 5.4 x 3.4 cm
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Octahedral pink fluorites to 19 mm in size on white calcite matrix - what a rare and beautiful combination! Some small smoky quartz crsystals are attached on the lower right side and add a beautiful contrast.
Oberdorf an der Laming, Steiermark, Austria
Size: 6.2 x 5.2 x 4.8 cm
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Large, elongated strontianite crystals with 6-sided pyramidal termination on dolomite matrix. Very 3-dimensional and perfect on all sides. Strontianites of the "quartz" habit are very rare, only very few specimens have been found in the 1960s. This piece comes from an old miner and is an excellent sample from the find.
Hopffeldboden, Obersulzbachtal, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 7.5 x 3.8 x 1.5 cm
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A 6 mm kainosite crystal on adularia and mica matrix. Hopffeldboden has produced the best kainosites in the world, the largest known crystal is 13 mm wide. This is an excellent sample of this exceedingly rare species! No damage.
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
Size: 6.7 x 5.9 x 3.6 cm
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The sharply terminated fluorite crystal is 22 mm on edges, its faces are highly lustrous and show intense sky-blue color with minor violet zoning. Two edges are framed by brown-red siderite crystals. The Fluorite is embedded in light grey well shaped Muscovite crystals. A very aestheic specimen and in great condition damage-wise.
Mawi, Laghman Province, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 7.1 x 2.9 x 1.2 cm
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This sharp and well-formed spodumene crystal features a very nice greenish-yellow colour and high transparency. It is in great condition all around, the bottom side is rehealed.