| |
Fine Mineral Specimens - Gallery XV |
 |
 |
|
Vanadinite - $1500
Mibladen, Midelt, Meknès-Tafilalet Region, 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.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
Beryl var. Heliodor - SOLD
Capelinha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.5 x 3.0 x 2.1 cm
MMS-124 - A frozen, golden ray, this doubly-terminated heliodor specimen from Brazil is capped by a second hexagonal crystal (1.7cm) of equal color and sharpness. The albite rosette balances the piece and adds an additional texture, bringing the eye down and then back up to the lustrous termination of the heliodor. Unetched, saturated yellow heliodor specimens are quite rare.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
Tourmaline var. Verdelite - SOLD
Pederneira mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
11.8 x 7.5 x 6.9 cm
MMS-150 - A gemmy, grass-green and blue verdelite crystal towers over numerous other crystals. Of the accompanying flat-topped crystals, some have hollow cores while others have pink scepter cores. Purple lepidolite with fine white contrasting fans of cleavelandite complete this pegmatitic suite. The main crystal has (only) one repair near the base that does not detract from the visual impact of this piece.
Purchase
» Top « |
Position the cursor over photo for an alternate background Click here to view larger image |
|
Cinnabar with Barite - $2250
Tongbei, Zhangzhou, Fujian Prov., China
4.4 x 3.4 x 4.0 cm
MMS-114 - Yellow transparent barite crystals accentuate the red glow of the cinnabar crystalization (26x11x27mm). White calcite and gray quartz crystals line the matrix, providing a backdrop for the featured minerals on the piece.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
|
Fluorite, Apatite, Aquamarine - $9500
Nagar, Hunza River Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan
11.5 x 11.0 x 9.0 cm
MMS-103 - Sea-froth, blue-green octahedral fluorite crystals immediately draw the eye to this piece. Attractive in their own right, lustrous pink apatite crystals provide a perfect complement with their contrasting texture and color. Water-clear aquamarine crystals complete the suite of gem minerals all which lie on thick books of silvery muscovite.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
Malachite on Cuprite - $8500
Emke mine, Onganja, Windhoek Dist., Namibia
5.4 x 4.8 x 3.1 cm
- ex Pellman Collection
MMS-147 - When these superb, large cuprite crystals came out in the 1970's, they were instant classics. Many of the specimens from that find had their malachite coatings removed. While this revealed the red glow of the cuprite, the faces lacked luster--some would say a poor substitute to the textured and subtle green variations this piece possesses. For size and visual arrangement, this piece deserves top marks.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
Ferberite with Fluorite - $850
Yaogangxian, Hunan Prov., China
5.7 x 5.0 x 4.6 cm
- ex Irv Brown Collection
MMB-338 - Several ferberite crystals forming a triangle host fluorite cubes and a lavender layer of drusy fluorite. Pristine from any angle, this is a superb Chinese miniature specimen.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
|
Tourmaline - $2750
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).
Purchase
» Top « |
Position the cursor over photo for an alternate angle Click here to view a larger image |
|
|
Copper - SOLD
Houghton County, Michigan
11.8 x 5.8 x 3.5 cm
MMB-309 - This copper specimen features numerous defined crystals of unusual size. For the price, you'd be hard pressed to find another piece of this quality and heft from the famous copper deposits of Houghton County.
Purchase
» Top « |
| |
|
|
|
|
