International Minerals #26

The cliffs of Berbes on the Spanish Atlantic coast are a well known source of superb purple fluorites. In a period of several decades a great variaty of colours and forms has been recorded. This specimen features large cubes (up to 5.3 cm wide) with a deep purple core and brigher layers of altering clear and purple zones on the outside. As a result the piece just glowes from inside, even without any backlight. The luster is excellent, and the growth patterns on the faces are stunning. Overall great condition and visual impact.

A spray of milky quartz crystals set atop lovely pink rhodochrosite crystals. This is a marvellous specimen of great condition and aesthetics. Ex Leo Thalhammer collection.

A well formed zunyite crystal perched on a small mother rock made of hemaite and selenite. The crystal measures 18 mm across. Lovely thumbnail sized piece!

A nicely balanced mix of cubic, octahedral and rhombohedral faces gives the fluorites from Naica their distinct shape and character. This specimen features two crystal clusters on a bed of black sphalerites, drawing the eye up and down. No significant damage to report.

WOW! What a rich and well defined sample of classic German proustite. The mining district of Schlema, Saxony is well known in the mineral world for its sharp and fiercy red proustite crystals. This specimen is a complete solid mass of proustite crystals throughout, it certainly was collected in an exceptionally rich ore vein. Individual crystals reach a length up to 3.5 cm. The first picture shows the specimen glowing deeply red in backlight, but even the other pictures in regular led light show a significant red hue, which is even better in the hand. Ex H.-G. Penndorf collection, Dresden, coll.no.811. Two of his labels are still comimg with the piece, stating the piece was found in 1960 in Gang Brahma on 720 meters below sea level.

Very intensely pink, now already classic Paprok rubellite with sidecars and lepidolite crystals. No restoration, no damage of significance. The crystal is capped by a thin green layer that is visible at a lower frontal angle.

Lovely crystal aggregates of pink cobaltoan smithsonite in rounded ball-shaped, almost stalactitic forms. Malachite-covered tennantites are mixed in and set a beautiful colour contrast. No damage on any of the crystals in the front and center parts. The piece is very 3-dimensional, much more than it appears on the picture.

WOW! What a super glossy, super gemmy, doubly terminated topaz crystal flanked by sprays of snow-white cleavelandite on the sides! Multiple bevels and extra faces give this crystal a very special and elegant look. Furthermore, the specimen is a floater and in great condition all around. No significant damage to report.

Wow! What a huge euchroite crystal sitting on rock matrix. The crystal measures 22 mm across. 1 repair.

A wonderful 15mm sphere of black adamite sitting perfectly centered on a limonite covered, gossan matrix. The crystal reflects the light like a disco-ball, the luster is just amazing. The specimen is in pristine condition, there is no damage.

This stunning rubellite crystal is sharp and deep red, lustrous and gemmy in the top section. The termination is awesome and free of damage. A cluster of white mica sets a nice accent on the right side. Very showy all around.

Deep orange scheelite, accompanied by goshenite and mica - what a lovely combination! The scheelite crystals are quite gemmy, even transparent, especially in the corner sections. The four goshenite crystals show nice bevels on the corners and set a pleasing contrast. This piece is much more 3-dimensional in person, it is very showy from several sides. No damage.