Recently Handled Minerals
Belqeys Mountain, Takab, West Azarbaijan Province, Iran
Size: 4.6 x 3.5 x 2.8 cm
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A large and lustrous garnet crystal perched on nicely contrasting host rock. The garnet crystal measures 20 mm across, and it has excellent deep green colour!
Outokumpu, North Karelia, Finland
Size: 7 x 5.6 x 2.8 cm
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Very rare uvarovite from this famous classic locality. But this specimen is even more exceptional - the crystals are resting on chatoyant, golden pyrite and chalcopyrite - the contrast is really superb! The uvarovite crystals are all sharp terminated and very glossy. They show this typical dark green color.
Mawi, Laghman Province, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 4.5 x 1 x 0.9 cm
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A novelty from a small discovery in 2018. The specimen shows light pink color and sharp terminated green cap. The faces are all highly lustrous, the carity is like glass - please note that it doesn´t need any backlight to show these colors; the quality is as good as it ever could be. Most specimen from this discovery were only single crystals - this one is a group of two larger crystals with one smaller in the center - this indicator makes it even more special. No significnat damages to report, bottom was on the rock.
Ahmad Abad Mine, Bahabad, Yazd Province, Iran
Size: 12.4 x 9.4 x 6.8 cm
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Deep orange wulfenite crystalsto 4.3 cm wide fully covering a gossan matrix. A few hundred tiny red vanadinites are scattered around and form a lovely contrast. As so typical of this locality, the wulfenites form a number of different habits, squaes and elongated shapes, thin and thick crystals, sharp and jagged. The colour varies from an intense butterscotch yellow to a truly deep and intense orange. This is probably one of the very best cabinet sized specimen from the recent finds!
De'an fluorite mine, Wushan, De'an Co., Jiujiang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, China
Size: 10.8 x 6.3 x 3.4 cm
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The octahedral crystals are up to 42mm across and 32mm on edges. The composition and the contrast are really great, and the main crystals are all in excellent condition. They show a dark green core with violet framing along teh edges.
Antsira, Sahatany Valley, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Size: 3.4 x 1.7 x 1 cm
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Superb deep red rubellite crystals in a very fine cluster. The terminations are all perfect, there is one repair, along the contact faces of the two large crystals. Gorgeous quality, only very few rubellite pockets have ever reached this amazing colour!
Tatagaar, Zard Mts., Kharan, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 6.7 x 5.7 x 4.7 cm
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The rock crystal is razor sharp terminated and shows excellent luster. It is water-clear and in it´s center you can see these amazing incluions of brookite and intense red-brown rutile. Photography doesn´t make justice to this wonderful aesthetic specimen! No significant damages to report.
Stak Nala, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan , Pakistan
Size: 4.3 x 3 x 2.7 cm
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Rare and beautiful combination of mint-green fluorite and olive-green tourmaline on mica and feldspar matrix.
Kuldiha, Orissa, India
Size: 7.8 x 3 x 2.4 cm
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One really amazing heliodor from recent discoveries in India. This material is very rare and only a low number of crystals shows this amazing quality. The crystal is gemmy and the etched texture on all faces is simply breath-taking. It looks nice on the photos, but I have to note that it is even much better in person. The specimen looks simply great in each angle and is rich of wonderful details all around. No significant damages to report.
Bergsig Farm 167 (Hohenstein), Omaruru District, Erongo Region, Namibia
Size: 5.7 x 4.4 x 3.2 cm
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"The Lizard" - what an gorgeous elongated bi-colour fluorite crystal perched on a nicely contrasting matrix! The pocket was found in 2005/2006 and named "Coca-Cola-Pocket" due to its amazing brown colours. This is one of the most aesthetic specimens I have ever seen from Erongo mountains. The crystals show very uncommon and rare shapes, there is no damage or contact. Published in the Extra Lapis 47 "Namibia", page 66. Ex Robert Brandstetter collection, his label is coming with the specimen.
Merelani Mine, Arusha, Tanzania
Size: 3 x 2.7 x 2.7 cm
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WOW! Incredible deep green tsavorite garnets on graphite matrix! The crystals have a fantastic green colour and especially the main crystal features truly an awesome brilliance. Wide parts are gemmy and clear. All the edges show nicely bevelled faces. There is a minor contact on the rear side, but this is forgivable and not a detraction when displayed from the front. What a rare and well formed miniature of highest standards!
No. 5 Mine, Baia Sprie (Felsöbánya), Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 5.8 x 4.9 x 3.3 cm
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A spray of iridescent berthierite is crossing a group of sharp and clear barite crystals. Great composition and form! There is one minor contact on the rear side, otherwise the specimen is in excellent condition.