A large, well-formed Apatite crystal with a garden-like growth of Actinolite crystals inside. In excellent condition as seen, the color is a deep oil green on the lower sector and is more clear light green at the top. This is a classic style of Alpine Apatite yet comes from the Himalaya region. The large flat glassy faces are partly composed of stepped flat hexagonal planes. A choice and attractive crystal.
Apatite (Fluorapatite)
stock #AX-29-071
Ghalangy Mine, Mohamed Agency
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
6.4 x 2.8 x 1.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1400
Fall 22
A large, etched hexagonal crystal of Apatite that is complete and doubly terminated. There is a minor amount of Lepidolite matrix that sets this crystal off nicely. The violet color and lightly stepped faces are especially striking. Good fluorescence and no damage seen even under good magnification. From a find in 2016, this crystal has unusually fine definition, large size and elongation far better than others we had seen. A choice purple Apatite from anyplace and excellent for this find.
Quartz - faden with bend and twist
stock #16.1-303
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
8.9 x 3.6 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
new year 2021
A really extraordinary Quartz. Faden Quartz is well-known as being found in distorted, flattened and elongated crystals, always with the internal "string" or line inside. This piece has all that in elegant gem clear crystals in a series of chains and clusters, but in addition it also has a remarkable bend with a slight twist. We have handled many great Fadens from the Waziristan finds but this is the only piece that has this remarkable form. This is nearly all Quartz, with just a sliver of matrix and is in fine condition, one edge contact is seen with magnification, this display incredibly well. A super addition for any Quartz suite or collection, this is especially impressive in person.
Quartz- Faden with tabular form
stock #AX-25-013
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Afghanistan
5 x 3.9 x 1.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $180
new year 2021
Sharp and complete tabular habit Quartz with wide faces that show well the inner fadden line. Perfect except where this was removed on the base, this from the incredible find in 2017 in Waziristan. This was a large discovery and there were many incredible shapes and habits but just a small percentage were perfect. Better in person the clean clarity is hard to appreciate in photos.
Faden Quartz
stock #AX-25-015
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
4.8 x 4.1 x 2 CM (miniature)
price: $135
Spring 2020
A perfect flat style Faden Quartz with very clear line or "string" in a very clear prism. Textbook form and excellent condition, from the incredible find a few years ago in Waziristan. Faden Quartz is fairly rare world wide but this find was so productive that it is still possible to find a choice specimen at a very reasonable cost. As an extra, this has a very slight twist or bend to the main crystal. Remarkably the edges are all perfectly sharp and complete.
Quartz -Faden
stock #AX-25-029
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
6 x 3.8 x 2.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Spring 2019
Sharp, gem clear and in perfect condition, a fine distorted Quartz cluster showing a distinct faden line or string inclusion. This is a cluster of three main Quartz prisms, each of which has a different habit, yet all have faden strings. The main prism is nicely perched and is the focal point, displays well from any angle and has an unusual tabular form. In excellent condition there are no chips or bruises visible by naked eye, 20X magnification inspection finds only incredibly small rough spots, this is essentially perfect. This find in Waziristan was big news in the mineral world, superb, world class and prolific. The large quantities found have kept the cost of a fine piece very reasonable. This specimen is far better than average, better in person.
Quartz- Tabular Faden habit
stock #AX-25-030
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
5.3 x 2.4 x .4 CM (cabinet)
price: $150
Spring update
A perfect "floater" that is crystallized all around and is remarkable, in perfect undamaged condition. From the finds in 2014 in Waziristan that produced some of the best Fadens ever found. This is a textbook example, fully transparent with bright luster and sharp edges. The Faden or string inside is distinct, bright and clear see from any angle. We have seen and handled many from these finds, undamaged floaters with such sharp details were very few.
Apatite (Fluorapatite) with Byssolite inclusions
stock #17.1-683
Ganadao (Gandahab) Mohmand Agency
FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
Pakistan
4 x 2.7 x 1.2 CM (miniature)
price: $600
Pre Holiday 2017
A complete, sharp transparent alpine style Apatite prism loaded with Byssolite needles that give the transparent colorless crystal a deep green hue. Very similar in form and look to Austrian and other European cleft Apatite. There is no damage and the whole is a floater with no point of attachment. Some of the edges show very complex multi faced crystallization and a few conjoined smaller crystals.
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