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Fine Mineral Specimens - Archives
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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.
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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.
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Beryl var. Aquamarine - SOLD
Shigar Valley, Baltistan, Pakistan
5.0 x 3.0 x 3.4 cm
MMB-504 - An aquamarine crystal with a complex termination rises from a matrix of cleavelandite and albite, which serves to provide texture contrast and attracts the eye to the blue of the aqua. Included tantalite crystals (right side) and a quartz crystal tucked among the cleavelandite rosettes make this piece worthy of quiet contemplation.
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Beryl var. Heliodor - SOLD
Pocket 422, Volodarsk, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine
11.6 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm
MMS-145 - This gem-quality, yellowish-green heliodor crystal has exceptionally distinct hexagonal edges. Each of the terminal faces has a textured 'tear drop' pattern, a different effect from the rectangular windows on the elongated faces. Locked inside is a 75 mm phantom with inclusions that highlight four of its faces. Photo documentation shows this specimen in situ on the day of its discovery in October 2007.
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Copper - SOLD
Houghton County, Michigan
6.0 x 5.4 x 2.9 cm
MMB-510 - Well-defined copper crystals of varying sizes make this a three-dimensional natural sculpture. Areas of bright patina and oxidized copper mineralization provide added visual interest. Arguably, the best coppers in the world come from Houghton County, as this piece exemplifies.
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Topaz - SOLD
Ouro Preto, Minais Gerais, Brazil
5.2 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm
MMS-170 - This bright, fiery orange topaz crystal has a full pinacoidal termination and sharp, lustrous faces. Few gem-quality specimens such as this survive the cutter's wheel due to their increasing value in the gem market.
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Topaz on Matrix - SOLD
Shamozai, near Katlang, Mardan, Pakistan
6.7 x 6.1 x 6.0 cm
MMS-138 - This pristine, gem-quality topaz crystal has a complex termination showing rather aesthetic 'raked' etch lines that add visual spice to the piece. Measuring 3.8 cm, the topaz crystal has only a pair of minor inclusions which reflect a myriad of bright colors to the eye.
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Corundum var. Ruby - SOLD
Jegdalek, Saroby, Afghanistan
3.9 x 2.7 x 3.2 cm
MMS-126 - Unusually sharp and well-terminated, a strongly purplish-red ruby crystal perches on white marble. The king of colored stones, rubies with any gemminess on matrix are rare due to their value as a gemstone. Paired with a cut stone, this would make quite an attractive rough & cut display.
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Beryl var. Heliodor - SOLD
Volodarsk, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine
13.8 x 4.7 x 4.4 cm
MMS-135 - A pinnacle of frozen sunlight, this 13.8 cm heliodor crystal is gemmy through and through with sharp and attractive etched faces. A joy to hold in the hand and admire. From the material found in the late 1980's.
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Cerussite - SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
8.8 x 4.9 x 6.0 cm
MMS-174 - Highly lustrous and transparent, reticulated cerussite crystals along with twinned cerussite jewels make for an aesthetic specimen. In person, one gets a better feel for the depth of the specimen. The piece is free from serious damage.
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Ferroaxinite - SOLD
Sagae, Loe Shilman carbonatite, Khyber Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Area, Pakistan
8.6 x 8.1 x 4.8 cm
MMS-183 - A very large axinite crystal, terminated in four directions, remains attached to a complex matrix including smaller ferroaxinite crystals, an unknown fibrous mineralization and clear euhedral crystals. Though 2.2 cm thick, the crystal ranges from transparent to translucent and has sharp edges. An important example of the species from this region.
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Adamite on Limonite - SOLD
Ojuela Mine, Durango, Mexico
5.0 x 4.2 x 4.2 cm
MMB-519 - With a vibrant greenish-yellow color, radial clusters of adamite crystals contrast sharply with the earthy tones of the limonite matrix. High luster and translucency combine to make this quite an attractive miniature specimen.
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Manganite - SOLD
Ilfeld, Nordhausen, Harz Mtns., Thuringia, Germany
7.3 x 5.8 x 4.4 cm
MMS-199 - This densely populated cluster of manganite crystals (to 2.5 cm) shows the perfection of form and extreme luster that made pieces from this limited find in the 1880's so famous. Still considered the best of species. Photographs can't capture the three-dimensional nature and flashiness of this specimen.
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Anglesite on Matrix - SOLD
Touissit, Oujda-Angad Province, Morocco
7.0 x 5.0 x 4.1 cm
MMS-203 - A gemmy, lustrous cluster of anglesite shows the yellow color zoning and dispersion characteristic of the species. Any damage, expected in specimens of this soft mineral, is confined largely to the back of the specimen.
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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.
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