Elbaite - "cat's eye ' Toumaline
stock #AX-7-540
Virgem do Lapa
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
9.1 x 2.8 x 1.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $775
Spring 2019
Silky "catseye" luster in these bi-color crystals makes a complex but impressive cluster. Most every crystal in this specimen is doubly terminated with one end pointed the other a flat basal termination. In impressive condition this is an older (25 years plus) Brazilian gem. The darkest colored areas are mostly opaque but the majority of the prisms are translucent and on thin edges transparent. With backlighting the crystals all show several areas of zoning, but in normal display these seem to have two main zones and silky texture is pronounced. Most of the faces have many tiny acicular crystals attached at jumbled angles, adding a nice sparkle in person. The longest crystal in this cluster is 8.5 CM. An excellent example of this style and habit not often available.
Elbaite- gem crystal
stock #18.1-336
Pederneira Mine, Sao Jose da Safira, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
4.2 x 1.1 x .8 CM (miniature)
price: $380
Bright green to blueish glassy luster tourmaline crystal in excellent condition. Nearly all gem grade, this weighs 6.5 Grams, and has only a few minor internal veils. Excellent example of this style from the great Pederneira Mine, there are no chips or flaws on the entire prism or termination, althouh this is inclomplete on the bottom end where it came from the matrix. That is not visible when displayed.
Elbaite on and in tabular Quartz
stock #16.1-563
Cruzeiro Mine, Sao Jose de Safira
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.3 x 2.6 x 1.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $340
A dark green to bluish pair of Elbaite crystals are laying on the flat face face of this tabular Quartz crystal. Very unusual and presenting an unique esthetic. The Tourmalines look nearly black in some light but with strong backlight the color and translucence is more distinct. The larger Tourmaline is contacted on one end but well terminated on the other, the smaller is doubly terminated. Aside from minor edge chipping the specimen is in fine shape. The Quartz is especially clear, completely transparent, doubly terminated and very glassy. Best appreciated in person.
SOLD Apatite (Fluorapatite in unusual form)
stock #SOLD 6.1-245
Golconda Pegmatite district, Govenador Valadares
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
4.1 x 1.6 x 1.3 CM (miniature)
price: $0
A strange form for this unusual gemmy pink Apatite from Golconda. This is a complete floater with no matrix or points of attachment, and no damage either. The crystal is curved and tapered with twisting evident as well. Certainly odd and far from typical, there is also a fadden-like inclusion running the length of the crystal clearly seen with any backlighting.
Brazilianite
stock #AC-349
Linopolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
7.8 x 5.3 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
A sculptural tower of Brazilianite crystals most of which are doubly terminated. An early 1970 vintage specimen with no matrix at all just several generations of Brazilianite in several habits nicely composed as a zigzag arrangement. In excellent condition, all the main crystals are undamaged, with 20X magnification, only a tiny chips are found in spots that are not seen on display, perfect by naked eye. The smaller crystals are transparent, gemmy and very lustrous, the larger ones have inclusions that are seen just inside the faces and give a more matte look but still have glassy faces outside. Not typical, the esthetics are fine and far better in person.
Titanite (Sphene) - gemmy crystals
stock #AC-366
Campo do Boa mine, Capalinha
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.9 x 3.8 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $340
Late Summer 2018
A brazillian specimen that was mined over 25 years ago. Very sharp, glassy twinned Sphenes on matrix up to 2.5 CM on matrix. The matrix is also covered on both sides with a druse of micro Titanite crystals that sparkle nicely. Some of the tiny Titanites seem to be untwinned which is rather rare but is known in a few specimens from this locale. The main crystals are well exposed from the matrix and show well from several angles. Some damage and contacts can be found on close exam but these do no stand out. The price reflects this, a good value for a very displayable specimen.
Apatite (CaF)
stock #18.1-388
Sapo Mine, Goiabeira
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.7 x 4.2 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
Late Summer 2018
A fine cluster of Apatite (Fluorapatite) crystals with a silky luster and a hint of zoning. From the remarkable Sapo Mine which has been the source of many different forms and types of Apatite, but is now closed. An older specimen, this habit and color were quite uncommon. Very esthetic, there is a natural crack (not a repair) and contact on the backside that is out of sight from the display side. There is no damage, a very clean specimen. A few Muscovite books are the only matrix, the cluster of crystals are well isolated and the composition is elegant.
Apatite (CaF)
stock #18.1-391
Sapo Mine, Goiabeira
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.2 x 3.5 x 2.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $390
Late Summer 2018
Stacked hexagonal prisms with super glassy faces and a deep green color. A Sapo mine specimen that in some ways looks like a Panasquira Apatite. Sapo produced many styles of Apatite over the years, this is a choice example of the non-tabular oriented type of prisms vintage 2004. Sadly the mine is not working anymore. In excellent undamaged condition, a pretty and esthetic arrangement.
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