International Minerals #20

An deep blue, very colour-saturated aquamarine from more recent finds in Vietnam. The color is EXTREME, and reminds me only of a very few Jos aquamarines I have seen in the past, quite more robust than aquas from Pakistan or Brazil. This elegant, cityscape cluster of vertical crystals is complete all-around and looks great in each angle. Only a low number was found, even less were clusters like the particular piece. It is pristine and has a fancy, pyramidal termination characteristic of this discovery. No significant damages to report.

This cerussite twin exhibits all the best qualities of lead carbonate from this deposit. These are classics from the 1960s and early 1970s, though most were sadly destroyed or damaged over the years due to the inherent fragility and softness of the species. This heart-formed shape in combination with luster, sharp termination and clarity is absolutely exceptional. The clarity is even better in person, what you see on my second photography is more reflection from faces of backside – but internal it is nearly water-clear. A few chips and bruises are present on the edges. The crystal is nearly colorless with touch of light cognac-like color. The texture is also superb and well visible on my first photo, but there are also amazing tiny, sharp faces along the edges (which are not visible on my images). Truly a major piece for this classic locality, which was closed in 2008 due to problems with flooding (after a long productive period, discovered in 1850).

Blood red, gemmy crystals formed a pyramidal-like assemble. The startiation of each crystal is simply breath-taking, the specimen shows outstanding quality and the photo don´t do justice to this marvellous specimen.

Lovely bi-colour piece from recent finds!

This specimen is developed as floater, beautiful shape all around. The crystal is very gemmy and shows candy pink color. The texture - caused by etching - looks really very eye-catching. No significant damages to report.

A sharp terminated, glossy and well developed gwindel. It is water-clear and looks great on front and back sides. The specimen is rich of amazing details, nearly impossible to capture all of them with the camera. Nearly perfect condition, only 2 tiny little chips. Nothing significant though, just 1-2 mm wide.

The main crystal is 29mm on edges. The faces show a really eye-catching texture, which seems to consit of hundreds tiny squares - all of them very glossy. The center is very light, just a touch of lavender. Along the edges you can see a sharp concentration of purple color. The crystal is perched on dark, lustrous sphalerite, which gives a lot of contrast and great visual impact to this excellent specimen.

A well formed floater cluster of sharp termianted, highly lustrous apatite crystals. They show a glassy character, along the edges they are gemmy, in the center you can see a wonderful byssolite inclusion. Lovely bevels on the edges, and wonderful display from all sides. No significant damages to report.

A group of 3 glossy crystals, all sharply terminated. They show attractive pastell colors - pink in the center; mint-green outer zones. The base is partly covered with lepidolite. The assemble looks very aesthetic all around. No significant damages to report, bottom was on the rock.

Beautiful lavender specimen from recent finds. Nice amethyst spheres on all sides!

A gorgeous assemble with very glossy, sharp terminated and gemmy amethyste crystals. They are all freestanding and the color is very good - much better then common material from the area. A further important indicator is the zepter habit of most amethyste crystals. Looks great in various positions. No significant damages to report. Ex Dr. Dallinger coll.

The matrix is nearly formed like a ball by tiny Feldspar crystals – they are white with touch of yellow and a significant dark stripe in the middle – even for a feldspar collector this would be an exciting specimen. On it an etched Tourmaline, etched and crystalized again – same effect as Volodarsk Heliodor. That is very special – usually an etched crystal would not be on Feldspat, the etching process would bring it off the matrix. Nearly all etched Tourmalines (and also these famous etched Auqas) from Brazil are always single crystals and not on matrix. The crystal (about 40 mm tall) shows uncountable sharp faces which are all highly lustrous, very uncommon habit for tourmaline. Also remarkable is the colour. At the base it is yellow to light green and at the top is shows cognac like colour, nearly orange. Yellow and orange are most rare for Tourmaline! Overall a great rarity, very unusual and great visual impact, very showy in several positions, colourful – an eye catcher and - although I did a good job with photography - it is better in person.