Recently Handled Minerals
Vorderer Zinggenstock, Grimsel, Haslital, Berner Oberland, Switzerland
Size: 14.4 x 10.7 x 5.6 cm
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A 6 by 4 inch plate of white granite is host to about two dozen pink fluorite crystals. The fluorites show a deep pink core and slightly purple corners, as so typical of the famous Rufibach pocket. The largest crystal is 2.3 cm wide. The dense coverage and arrangement of the fluorites make this a truly fine and attractive alpine fluorite specimen!
Antsira, Sahatany Valley, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Size: 5.3 x 2.4 x 2.1 cm
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The crystal is well developed and features a fantastic colour zoning! From top to bottom there are about 10-12 distinct colours visible. At the base it is dark, then you can see various steps of yellow and moss green, at the top it shows a concentration of pink and very attractive texture at the end point. It is very glossy all around and shows good translucency. Repaired once, and professionally restored.
Herja Mine, Chiuzbaia, Baia Mare, Maramureș Co., Romania
Size: 18.5 x 11 x 4 cm
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Botyoidal siderite in nice and well-formed balls, covering a piece of matrix on all sides. Total weight is 1900 grams. Little barites are attached in a few places. Ex Leo Thalhammer collection. He aquired the piece in 1968 in Herja, his label is still coming with the piece.
Furka, Kanton Uri, Switzerland
Size: 4 x 3.6 x 1.1 cm
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Clear gwindel of top quality! One cannot imagine better any more, just bigger! Almost closed shape and mirror luster - what a beauty!
Furka, Kanton Uri, Switzerland
Size: 10.7 x 6.7 x 4.2 cm
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A really large, water-clear gwindel in light smoky color. The specimen shows a significant rotation, the termination is very sharp and the faces are very glossy. Only the tips show just a powder of chlorite, which helps to give more contrast to the piece. Hard to photograph, better in person! The dimension is remarkable and the quality is very good also backside. No damages, no contacts!
Cavnic Mine (Kapnik), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 15.8 x 11.7 x 6.6 cm
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Superb large cabinet sized specimen of botryoidal rhodochrosite on quartz matrix. Large, beautiful and significant crystals! One of the top ten pieces in Leo Thalhammer's famous Romania collection. Superb shape and contrast, and great condition!
Cavnic Mine (Kapnik), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 10.8 x 7.6 x 5.2 cm
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Very aesthetic specimen featuring quartz, and ball-shaped calcite on top. No damage.
Herja Mine, Chiuzbaia, Baia Mare, Maramureș Co., Romania
Size: 5.7 x 5.6 x 3.7 cm
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Wonderful boulangerite included calcite rosette. Stepped faces, shiny luster and an overall floater form, great features to make a lovely specimen!
Marki Khel, Khogyani, Nangahar, Afghanistan
Size: 4.2 x 3.9 x 3 cm
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The main crystal is 15mm across. It shows a very dark, nearly black color. All edges are razor sharp, highly lustrous and they show a wonderful texture. The main crystal is completely exposed and the contrast to epidote is excellent. A very aesthetic specimen, which looks great in various positions.
Eagle's Nest Mine, Placer Co., California, USA
Size: 3.6 x 3.3 x 0.8 cm
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Sharp and super-glossy gold crystals form this woderful gold floater specimen.
Malá Vieska, Družstevná pri Hornáde, Košice Co., Košice Region, Slovakia
Size: 9.9 x 7 x 4.9 cm
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Jet-black goethite from this classic locality in Slovakia. The specimen is well developed all around, the goethite shows mirror-like luster. The piece looks great in various positions and should be high ranked for the rare origin.
Cavnic Mine (Kapnik), Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Maramures Co., Romania
Size: 17.7 x 9.3 x 8.9 cm
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The specimen can be shown in any angle, rotated left or right or to backside – a killer each time! I photographed it under daylight conditions on dark background, the only light source was the window in 1 meter distance to the left hand side of my photo-table. So the pink color is not the result of strong backlit or photoshop. The whole surface all around consists of tiny little faces, like fish scales. All these faces are razor sharp terminated and there is not one face on satiny luster – all is highly lustrous. That´s impossible to photograph, you wouldn´t need one or two or even ten mirrors to show this luster – you would need a disco ball. So this indicator is so much better in person. Also the assemble is better – on one side it looks like a high keel, in an other angle it looks like a torch and every time it is amazing! The edges are always snowy white and jagged. The color is like quartz rose, if you use moderately backlit it will become intense pink! Micro crystals of chalcopyrite are scattered all over one side and on the smaller side-crystal. Partly these crystals are inter grown underneath the surface. The specimen is well formed all around, you can display it in all angles, only lowest bottom was on the rock. Absolutely undamaged, much better in person. Never saw a better one from Cavnic, would be a great addition to each Romania-collection.