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Fine Mineral Specimens - Recently Sold
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Tourmaline - SOLD
Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan
5.5 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm
MMB-502 - A natural gem, very few tourmalines from Paprok approach the rich, juicy colors of this piece. Each layer of color is an individual phantom, matching the final angle of the termination. Even more gemmy in person, this piece displays well with or without back-lighting (minor back-lighting here).
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Spessartine Garnet - SOLD
Shengus, Skardu District, Baltistan, Pakistan
8.9 x 6.9 x 5.5 cm
MMB-556 - Rich red spessartine garnet crystals rest among euhedral, twinned muscovite books in this stunning small cabinet specimen. Scattered throughout the specimen are little spessartine "gems" that add extra appeal to an already aesthetic masterpiece. This is by no means a two-dimensional piece: the muscovite book on the right extends toward the viewer at an angle with more spessartine mineralization behind it. Pictured in Rocks & Minerals magazine
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Dioptase on Calcite - SOLD
Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
4.0 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm
MMB-561 - With luscious luster and form, this dioptase specimen features a gemmy 1.9 cm crystal of the finest saturated green showing phantoms when backlit. The crystals are in superb condition. No longer available from the source, dioptase specimens with large crystals on white matrix are particularly sought after and revered.
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Quartz var. Amethyst - SOLD
Las Vigas, Vera Cruz, Mexico
12.5 x 12.1 x 6.0 cm
MMB-558 - Possessing the quality of a miniature, this cabinet-sized plate displays isolated amethyst crystals (to 4 cm) with great color and superb transparency on the epidote matrix treasured by connoisseurs. The plate shows no damage. Las Vigas specimens of this size and quality are exceedingly difficult to find. Be sure to view the alternate angles as this piece is very three-dimensional.
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Azurite - SOLD
Tsumeb, Charlie Key Pocket (1960s), Namibia
4.6 x 2.5 x 2.3 cm
- ex Karl Warning, - ex Bill Severance Collections
MMS-162 - In this classic Tsumeb azurite miniature, sharp-edged, deep electric blue crystals rise in parallel looking to all the world like a masterwork of architecture. Miniature specimens from Tsumeb of this quality are quite scarce, and pieces from the famed Charlie Key Pocket of the 1960's find a proud place in any mineral collection.
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Beryl var. Morganite - $9500
Urucum mine, Galileia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
11.0 x 9.5 x 7.0 cm
MMS-186 - This gemmy morganite crystal, pierced with schorl tourmaline inclusions, measures a sizeable 7.5 cm. Complete all around, the morganite crystal also displays well from the back, the lower portion of which is coated with a network of green-black schorl crystals. From the famous find in the 1960's.
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Tourmaline with Smoky Quartz - $8500
Stak Nala, Skardu, Baltistan, Pakistan
8.0 x 6.5 x 7.2 cm
MMS-212 - A lustrous and striated tourmaline crystal (7.1 cm, 3.5 cm exposed) with a collar of bladed white cleavelandite towers above a trio of fully terminated smoky quartz crystals. A transparent, partially complete pink apatite crystal balances the right side.
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Hematite w/ Rutile - SOLD
Cavradi, Val Tavetsch, Canton Graubunden, Switzerland
5.0 x 3.0 x 1.8 cm
–ex Dr. Richard Webster Collection
MMB-534 - Fine, intergrown blades of hematite with mirror-bright luster and bevelled edges rise from a quartz crystal matrix. The specimen is pristine with a small contact on the left which doesn't detract visually at all. Numerous slivers of brownish-red rutile add visual contrast to the striated hematite. Stunning.
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Grossular Garnet - $7500
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
5.4 x 4.2 x 3.0 cm
MMS-104 - Numerous transparent grossular crystals lie isolated on a bed of prismatic yellowish-green diopside. Sharply formed and striated, garnets from the Jeffrey Mine are considered by many to be the finest gem grossulars in the world. Actually an asbestos quarry, the locality is mostly inactive, meaning top specimens only rarely come to market from private collections.
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Beryl var. Aquamarine & Fluorite - $7950
near Aliabad, Nagar, Gilgit, Pakistan
12.0 x 8.2 x 5.0 cm
- ex Irv Brown Collection
MMS-122 - A superb combination piece from Pakistan showcasing a pristine, gemmy and green cuboctahedral fluorite crystal (3.2cm) tilted slightly toward a well-formed, transparent aquamarine (3.5cm) all on a bed of unblemished muscovite. A surprise awaits under the fluorite visible in the photo--a yellow fluorite is tucked away among the muscovite blades.
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Silver on Copper - $2350
Wolverine Mine, Houghton Co., Michigan
3.8 x 2.4 x 2.0 cm
MMS-154 - Sharp, twinned silver crystals rise from a matrix of bright native copper. The positioning of the silver and the overall economy of the piece--nothing extra included, nothing missing--make this a competition-quality miniature.
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Wulfenite w/ Dolomite - $4500
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
9.6 x 6.2 x 5.7 cm
MMS-110 - In addition to the sharp window-pane wulfenite crystals (to 2.0cm), pale gray, bladed dolomite rosettes are distributed on a dark green botryoidal malachite layer likely pseudomorphed after tennantite. Close examination reveals prismatic azurite also likely pseudomorphed after tennantite. Considered by many collectors to be the most important ore body ever discovered, Tsumeb produced a wealth of fantastic specimens.
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Vanadinite - $2500
Mibladen, Midelt, , Morocco
6.5 x 5.8 x 3.9 cm
MMS-108 - Rich red translucent blooms of large vanadinite crystals rise from the matrix in glorious display. Advanced collectors know that vanadinites from Mibladen are not particularly rare. However, with this level of color and luster, along with contrasting matrix, this specimen is a masterpiece, stunning in person from all angles.
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