Recently Handled Minerals
Rosia Poieni Mine, Mușca, Lupșa Commune, Alba, Romania
Size: 5.3 x 2.4 x 1.2 cm
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The only compareable quality of vivianite in entire Europe came from Trepca - and crystal size was not larger than 2,5 to 3cm. From Romania I have seen some samples from Herja and Nistru Baita - tiny opaque stuff. I drop over the floor when I saw this new material; it is simply incredible. The dimension, the quality, the luster and this fantastic colour! This piece is from a recent discovery in spring 2019. In my evaluation one of the most relevant, the most important discoveries in entire Europe since decades or even for a century. The faces are highly lustrous and some intergrown light matrix helps to give more contrast to this exceptional crystal. Along the faces of the end-point you can see some modifications, which make this outstanding crystal even more special.
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Size: 3.8 x 1.3 x 1.1 cm
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Superb classic watermelon tourmaline crystal from an old find. Great colours and condition.
Fibbia, Tessin, Switzerland
Size: 2.5 x 2 x 1.8 cm
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A raelly fantastic thumbnail with a sharp terminated iron rose on a well shaped, snowy white adularia crystal. The iron rose shows mirror-like luster and the adularia is also very glossy. The assemble couldn´t show any better aesthetics. No damage.
Söllnkar, Krimmler Achental, Hohe Tauern, Pinzgau, Salzburg, Austria
Size: 6 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm
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This piece features a sharp and glossy augite crystal right in the center of white, bladed albite crystals. What a pleasing contrast! From an old find, no more of these are being found.
Mörchnerkar, Zemmgrund, Zillertal, Tirol, Austria
Size: 4.6 x 3.8 x 4.2 cm
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Amazing ironrose perched on mica and schist matrix! The luster is exceptionally fine on the front faces, the side faces are slightly coated by chlorite. The piece is very aesthetic and in great condition on all sides. Collected 2015.
Sferlun, Val Malenco, Lombardia, Italy
Size: 3 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm
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A sharp and lustrous 8 mm demantoide on schist matrix. No damage.
Brown's Prospect, Rum Jungle, Batchelor, Coomalie Shire, Northern Territory, Australia
Size: 13.3 x 8.2 x 4.9 cm
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The specimen is from a discovery in 2010, the so called "Pizza Pocket". Well shaped spheres of dark green malachite are covered with tiny yellow-green, sharp terminated and sparkling pyromorphite crystals. The piece shows a very 3-dimensional composition and good contrast, the dimension is remarkable. No significant damages to report.
Green Walking Stick deposit, Karoi District, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe
Size: 5.2 x 1.9 x 1.5 cm
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These beryls were mined in the late 1970s and some were hoarded by the miner, Bob Contat, a geologist over there at the time. But there was never much quantity and today they are very, very uncommon, rare and immediately recognizable by the color and shape. This particular specimen looks like two elongated tons on the top of each other. At the end points the color is darker, nearly orange-brown. Most of the crystal shows strong, vivid yellow. But depending on angel and light you can see also tones of yellow-green. The texture of the glossy faces is also very attractive. Well developed and on same high quality all around. No damage.
Niederschlema, Schlema, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Size: 2.7 x 1 x 0.7 cm
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Another killer TN proustite from this old classic German locale! This crystal features a pointed termination and wonderful striations on all sides. Little buising along the edges is present, but tiny and trivial in context. The colour is in fact a deep red! The crystal just glows, even in daylight - there is no extra light source required!
Freiberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Size: 3.1 x 3 x 1.4 cm
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Two generations of acanthite associated by small red proustite crystals. The piece has great aesthetics and very sharp and lustrous crystals. It is a floater and perfect on all sides. No damage.
Serifos Island, Greece
Size: 36 x 22 x 13 cm
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WOW! What a huge and amazing prase quartz specimen from Greece! Only very few specimens of this size have been found, and this is indeed one of the very finest! Hundreds of sharp and pointed prase quartz crystals stick up from a matrix, black magnetite ps. hematite balls set a beautiful contrast! The piece is in great shape and condition all around. Very 3-dimensional and showy from all angles.
Oyo Mine, Nigeria
Size: 4.4 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm
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Superb tourmaline crystal from Africa featuring incredibly strong colours when backlight!