Recently Handled Minerals
Paprok, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Size: 4.1 x 2.1 x 1.9 cm
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This is a very nice bi-colour tourmaline featuring a sequence of pink, green and again pink colour in the bottom core. No damage and well crystallized on all sides.
Dusso, Shigar valley, Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Size: 4.8 x 4.2 x 2.4 cm
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Two dozen spessartine crystals of various sizes are scattered on a white feldspar crystal! The garnets are fiercely red, highly lustrous and especially the smaller ones are fully transparent throughout. All crystals are in perfect condition.
Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Size: 5.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm
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Bright and shiny crocoite crystals on gibbsite and gossan matrix. From the best section of the Lower Red River pocket. The colour and luster are in fact amazing!
Riemvasmaak, Kakamas, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Size: 8.3 x 8.2 x 3.1 cm
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A well formed cluster of sharp terminated octahedrons, they are very translucent and all afces are very glossy. The color is much better, compared to common locality from this locality. It is more or less impossible to capture all these indicators with the camera, so I have to note that it is much better in person.
Sidi Lahcen Mine, Nador, Morocco
Size: 6 x 5 x 2.7 cm
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The freestanding baryte group is complete all around and about 43mm across. The crystals are well shaped, their color is light blue. The assemble is very aesthetic, the piece is very showy in various positions and contrast to brown matrix is fine, too.
Rapid Creek, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada
Size: 8.2 x 4.2 x 3.3 cm
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Fine crystals nicely perched on quartz matrix. Good contrast and colour! No damage on front side.
Gastacher Wände, Dorfertal, Osttirol, Tirol, Austria
Size: 3.2 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm
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Lovely grass green sphene crystals with ilmenite included in some naturally grown holes. The main crystal is a nice twin, the side crystal shows no twinning. Percect condition.
Brixlegg, Tirol, Austria
Size: 6.3 x 3.2 x 1.8 cm
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Botryoidal malachite aggregates on host rock from a classic Austrian locality. The luster is excellent, and the black inclusions on right side set a lovely contrast. No damage.
Dallas Gem Mine (Benitoite Gem Mine), San Benito Co., California, USA
Size: 5.6 x 4.7 x 2.2 cm
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Two lovely benitoite crystals measuring 22 and 18 mm across on natrolite matrix. Small neptunites provide a beautiful contrast. Both benitoites are pristine and free of damage.
Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Size: 5.6 x 4.4 x 3.1 cm
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Highly lustrous dioptase crystals covering a calcite and duftite matrix. The colour is superb, and the luster is very bright! Minor chipping is present in a few places, but it is small and inferior.
Ahmad Abad Mine, Bahabad, Yazd Province, Iran
Size: 5.9 x 5.9 x 4.7 cm
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This specimen features the very best colour of the entire find. Deep orange, partially reddish, wulfenite crystals are scattered on a white calcite matrix. Lovely contrast and composition. Minor edge wear is present in places, but it is small and unimportant in context. What a surprise to see this amazing colour coming from new finds from Iran!
Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Size: 5.6 x 4.9 x 3.3 cm
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Sharp and clear, well terminated aquamarine crystals standing upright on white feldspar matrix. Both crystals have excellent colour and no damage.