A fine gem crystal with intense blue color, this is an older specimen from the great Barra do Salinas in Brazil. Typical of good Barra Tourmalines, the exterior is etched and has a fibrous look, yet the inside is nearly all flawless gem grade. This has top blue color with bright luster, it is terminated with stepped habit and is undamaged. A small Lepidolite crystal on the side is a nice addition. Choice and better in person.
Pyromorphite on Quartz
stock #24.1-431
Mercur Mine, Bad Ems, Nassau
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Germany
3.4 x 2.3 x 1.7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $200
A choice, bright green thumbnail specimen from this famed, classic locality. The condition is excellent, no damage to note and the Pyro crystals are clustered in sheaf-like masses. The habit is unusual for a Bad Ems Pyromorphite, the contrast with the matrix makes it stand out well.
Smoky Quartz Gwindel
stock #23.1=292-DK
Val Giuv, Tujetsch, Surselva Region
Grischun (Grisons),
Switzerland
4.3 x 4.4 x 2.7 CM (miniature)
price: $700
A complete Gwindel that is transparent and has a deep red-brown color. In fine condition as seen, the Quartz has a very well-defined twist and displays well from any side. Excellent lustre and form. Larger Quartz than this miniature are currently vey costly, this is a choice smaller example at a much more affordable price.
Super esthetic display piece in great condition! A long (7.6 CM) gem-clear shaft of tourmaline is composed of two parallel crystals well-perched on the matrix. The matrix itself is a mix of tiny Elbaites, Lepidolite, Quartz and Albite crystals partially coated with a hard Mica-rich clay coating. This forms an excellent contrast to the gem Tourmaline. Amazingly, there are no repairs on this delicate specimen, a rare complete matrix piece from the early 2000 era. The crystal is striated on all sides which looks almost chatoyant in some lighting but overall luster is brilliant, with good transparency and the color zoning has a distinctive pastel range. More impressive in person too.
Pyromorphite - fine, large classic Chinese
stock #6.2-550
Daoping Mine, Gongcheng County, Guilin Prefecture
Guangxi Province,
Chile
9.8 x 8 x 5.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $2600
An impressive large forest-green Pyro from the era of the best finds at Daoping mine (early 2000's) This is all Pyromorphite and displays incredibly well with slightly matte luster and a deep varied green color. The condition overall is fine but a very close inspection finds only a few small spots of tip roughness. Displays well and the imperfections are almost unnoticeable, yet they do keep the price lower. This style of Pyro was found from about 1999 to 2003 and not since. Later finds had different colors and habits, but this is the most classic. The better Chinese Pyromorphites are now highly respected as some of the best found over the past few centuries. These have become very expensive and rare in this size and quality, this one is from a newly released collection and a very good value (IMHO)!
A fine and sizable classic Yaogangxian Fluorite. From a find in 2005, deep purple cubes of Fluorite are filled with silver needles of Boulangerite, some of which protrude from the faces. The cubes are up to 4.3 CM lustrous and quite sharp. The mass of fine crystals inside the cubes gives a blue to grey color in some areas, other parts are more vibrant purple. From the great Yaoganxian Mine, this is the world’s best locality for Boulangerite in Fluorite. This is far better and more esthetic than most, this quality has not been seen in recent finds. Displays an unusually rich inclusion density with a contrasting silvery matrix of nearly pure Arsenopyrite crystals.
Stellerite with Quartz
stock #22.1-626
Tatatila Municipality
Veracruz,
Mexico
5.5 x 4.8 x 2.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $190
Bright orange balls and some smaller yellow balls are scattered with a few Quartz crystals on this matrix.
A choice and colorful example with a "wet look" on the orange balls. From 2022 finds at Tatatila (Mexico) most Stellerite is not this attractive and the color is unusually rich on these. The find seemed to be quite small and no more have come out.
Barite - unusual locality
stock #24.1-192
Tses Baryte Prospect, Brukkaros Complex, Berseba Townlands Farm 426, Ber
Il Karas Region,
Namibia
2.7 x .8 x .6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $140
Single crystal of Barite (Baryte) from an unusual locality the Tses Propect in the Il Karas of Namibia. This shows a distinct golden to orange color transition. Nice thumbnail that is in fine condition and perfectly terminated. This seems to have been a one time find. these are more or less impossible to find except from older collections.
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