From an old small find of these exotic, tapered habit gem beryls, this is a very nice, clean example. Excellent condition, with great texture, color and form, this is not a typical Beryl at all! Ex Larry White collection.
Beryl V. Goshenite on Muscovite
stock #12.1-119
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu, Huya
Sichuan,
China
14 x 7.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $1650
The most esthetic Chinese Goshenite I have seen! The matrix plate (sawn on underside) is completely covered with sharp, tabular Goshenites with bright lustre and transparency. The largest crystal is 4 CM across and textbook perfect. It is surprising that well-crystallized colorless Goshenite Beryl is much rarer than Morganite, Aquamarine and Heliodore!
Beryl V Aquamarine on Muscovite
stock #6.2-076
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu, Huya
Sichuan,
China
8.3 x 5.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
A very fine and esthetic Aqua from the prolific discoveries on Mt Xuebaoding. Since the devastating earthquakes that were centered in this part of Sichuan Province, there has not been much new material of good quality. This is very good older piece from 2006. The classic tabular form is well developed to 4.1 cm,overall in fine condition some contacting on outer edges that is not visible from display side. Very good value.
Beryl (Zoned-milky white to Aquamarine)
stock #0126-JM-383
Palmital Mine, Minas Novas, Jequitinhonha Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.9 x 3.6 CM (miniature)
price: $175
An unusual Beryl crystal, from a find several years ago (1960's) that produced these odd specimens. Bright glassy luster, a deep translucent bluish white zone at the base changes to a clear blue green near the termination. There is micro chipping on some edges, as all pieces had from this find, despite this the specimen is the most pristine I have seen of this style. A very different Beryl that is certainly rare!
A gemmy 4 CM aqua in perfect condition is penetrating a 4.8 CM albite crystal sitting on Muscovite. From the now famous Mt Xuebaoding area, this is a fine combo piece. Unusual relationship is prominently displayed in a very esthetic specimen. There are a lot of Aquas on the market from this area, this one is distinctly different and nice.
The Xuebaoding Aquamarines are distinctive and have become rather common on the market, but good ones are much less common. This is a good example with deeper than average color and distinct sharp form. The single gem crystal is well placed esthetically on the matrix. As a bonus the dark area on the right includes a zone of redissolved Cassiterite, an unidentified green mineral similar to Mushingtonite, and an unknown Silver metalic mineral. As this location is not able to produce at this time, these will be harder to get and are still a remarkable bargain.
I believe that the area near Pingwu, China is one of the greatest mineral locaties ever. Some amazing quality minerals are well known but usually not many variations. However, this is not a typical Xuebaoding Aqua! In 2007 I purchased a small lot in China that were unusualy elongated beryls that were bi-color (white to blue). I expected there would be many more, but there were not, the habit is very rare and not found since. We originally sold this piece in 2007, I am glad to have it back. It has the largest crystals I have seen from this find (4.8 CM) and it displays super well. No damage at all on the display side, there is matrix contact on the back. The crystals are well arranged on the minimal matrix which is the usual albite and muscovite. Most of the terminations show an unusual hoppering that is also unique to this one find.
Sharp, delicate and clear tabular Goshenites with textbook form are well placed on a classic matrix from Mt. Xuebaoding. Remarkable esthetics and no damage, these are not common by any means and this is very good example. This locality is not producing since the big Sichuan earthquake. The largest of the Goshenites is 2.3 CM wide.
