Recently Handled Minerals
Grube Stefanie, Bleiberg, Kärnten, Austria
Size: 9.9 x 7.8 x 4.6 cm
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Deep orange wulfenite crystals from Grube Stephanie, the type locality of the species. The matrix is almost fully covered by bright and sparkling crystals. This is an excellent sample from this classic locality, way above average level and very hard to obtain today. No significant damage to report.
Killa Saifullah, Balochistan, Pakistan
Size: 5.3 x 4.6 x 1.6 cm
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Bright yellow ball-shaped aggregates of brucite in a lovely cluster composition. The colour is the best i have seen so far, and the luster is superb as well!
Judith Lynn Claim, Pine Canyon deposit, West Burro Mts., Burro Mountains Distr., Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Size: 11.8 x 7.5 x 6.7 cm
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This material is usually only labeled with "Burro Mts." or "Grant Co.", but to be excat: it is from a small dsicovery at Judith Lynn Claim. These specimens are very special: they show two different colors and two different habits: sharp terminated, dark violet octahedrons and pale green cubes. The quantity of this material was always limited and the discovery was decades ago - so this one represents a great rarity.
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mun. de Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Size: 12.5 x 8.9 x 6 cm
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The fluorite crystals are up to 24mm on edges, a really remarkable dimension for this well known locality. All four main crystals are isolated - that is an important indicator, as most pieces show just intergrown crystals. The largest one at the top is the most exposed one! Their faces are partly glossy, also the clarity is very good and the color is as good as it ever could be from Ojuela. So this specimen unifies quality, color, exceptional crystal size and aesthetic assemble! No significant damages to report.
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.