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S13653 - Elbaite with Microcline and Quartz - $17000
Paprok Mine, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Overall Size: 16 x 15.7 x 6.8 cm
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A GRAND SPECIMEN is always easy to spot and pieces this fine are very much coveted by gem crystal collectors. Bound
by several pegmatite minerals, most important of which is glassy elbaite and large sharp microcline. Together they
create what must be the nicest sculptural combo piece I have seen in a very long time. The microcline alone stands 11.4
cm tall with neatly placed pale lavender lepidolite. Miners periodically encounter elbaite at Paprok, but it is actually surprising
how scarce highly developed feldspars of this quality and form can be next to showy pink elbaite, AND still look AMAZING.
Termination is in pristine condition. Another thing I almost didn't mention, is the fact that this specimen shows no repair,
which is practically unheard-of in large complex groups. Finally, when talking about tourmaline one cannot forget the most
spectacular and valuable aspect of all - the wow factor. And, this 16 x 15.7 x 6.8 cm plate packs a lot of punch. The whole
specimen is just plain impressive from a display point of view.
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S13655 - Leiteite - $8000 SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Overall Size: 8.7 x 0.7 cm
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Leiteite has to be the only mineral of its kind with this unusual and unique tin foil quality, truly singular! This fairly thick, silky
white to perfectly colorless gem species reaches a remarkable 8.7 cm in length. You are looking at what passes for a
termination, outside of a few small thumbnail specimens from the zinc pocket, large leiteite is usually so raggedy
in appearance most American collectors refuse to buy them. However, this is one of the nicest examples I have seen.
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S13656 - Calcite (Var. Manganoan) - $685 SOLD
Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Overall Size: 10 x 5.4 cm
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This rosy pink manganoan sphere to 5.5 cm across sits up very well for display even though it will require an acrylic base.
This 4-inch "snow cone" is shockingly gorgeous for calcite. The manganese-rich variety is sought after for its exceptional
form and locality, which does play a part coming from the famous Wessels mine, South Africa.
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S13657 - Tsumcorite with Wulfenite and Tennantite - $2350 SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Overall Size: 8 x 5.9 cm
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8 x 5.9 cm. This assemblage is superb for both its minerals and pocket. Tsumcorite, the yellow rarity here, was named
after the Tsumeb Corporation. It has quite literally smothered these sharp tennantites forming a sharp and attractive
outline you normally don't see. Wulfenite on the other hand grew scattered over the piece, miraculously free of damage.
A rare and super-choice combination plate from the Tsumeb mine.
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S13660 - Adamite (Var. Cuprian) with Cerussite - $950
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Overall Size: 6.4 x 5.2 cm
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6.4 x 5.2 cm. This unique shade of blue-green adamite has to be one of the most pleasing from the Tsumeb locality. A
beautiful concentrated group of lustrous wedge-shape terminations flow over the front half of matrix in a way to be less
confusing for display. Combine this with its remarkable eye appeal, and we have an outstanding small cabinet
specimen from a legendary mine.
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S13668 - Adamite with Tsumcorite - $1675 SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Overall Size: 5.3 x 4 cm
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Here we have a ridiculous 2.7 cm long, 2.2 cm wide, 1.7 cm deep orange adamite group, which is whopping for this color
by Tsumeb standards or anywhere else for that matter. Its yummy hue and gem quality go great together. As seen
in the photo there is some contact points around the edge, but its other qualities make up for this trivial defect,
least of all is a rich bed of caramel-colored tsumcorite.
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S13670 - Smithsonite (Var. Cuprian) - $1350
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Overall Size: 8 x 5 cm
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8 x 5 cm. Tsumeb smithsonite occurs in a wide range of colors, and this specimen exhibits one of the famous hues to
come from the mine, that of oily evergreen. To find botryoidal specimens with this type of "folded layer" was rare. It
completely gives the piece aesthetic shape. A natural wet appearance coats the piece and shows no bruising or
damage, only to be highly complimented by countless tiny glistening faces. Now classic material.
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S13671 - Colemanite - SOLD
Kestelek Mine, Mustafa Kemalpafla, Bursa Province, Turkey
Overall Size: 7.3 x 5.6 cm
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I dare say Turkish colemanite has the finest quality for the species. Its slick glassy faces spread over this plate are
virtually blinding in person. A lot more going on than just luster though, put this cluster under any light and you can catch
consistent fiery red highlights in this borate specimen.
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S13672 - Zircon - $175 SOLD
Harchu, Astor Valley, Northern Areas, Pakistan
Overall Size: 2.3 x 2 cm
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Better color than most. An array of brownish red take place in worldwide zircon deposits, yet few match the splendid
blood-red tint that comes from Harchu, Astor valley, Pakistan. They are exceptional and this thumbnail's intense
color and gem quality distinguish it from others.
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S13673 - Elbaite with Albite - $3000
Pech, Chapa Dara District, Kunar Province, Afghanistan
Overall Size: 5 x 4.5 x 3 cm
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In great condition all the way around including the sharp iceberg-like termination. Very beautiful blue crystal, measuring five
centimeters long by three centimeters thick, where four distinct color zones occur, the boldest of which is a thin band of
inky-blue indicolite. Fine crystals started to appear in the early 1970s and in the decades since have only
gotten better with time.
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S13674 - Elbaite with Microcline - SOLD
Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California
Overall Size: 7.2 x 5 cm
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This is an excellent piece of California real estate. Absolutely GORGEOUS and HIGHLY prized by those of us living in the
golden state, and I must admit this "Popsicle" is an all-time favorite of mine. It comes from the Ralph Potter era of
mining. One very noteworthy characteristic of these elbaites is strong bicolor crystals of such deep coloration, some
of them have been considered the finest in the world. The most valuable of which are pronounced shades of lush-green
and hot-pink saturation and this magnificent elbaite fits that description to a T. Aesthetic matrix Himalaya specimens, this
fine and perfect, don't go cheap. The most presentable crystals from this classic locality mount up so very well on
microcline, that they let you see their dominant two-tone color from every angle. Miraculously, this specimen is not
repaired, nor does the crystal show any damage.
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S13678 - Silver - $800
Elura Mine, Cobar, New South Wales, Australia
Overall Size: 5 x 1.3 cm
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An elegant Australian silver specimen defined by its spinel-twin plane and protruding sharp crystals. This piece isn't
delicate like many others, but instead thick and partly nonelastic. The patina also drapes this native element as
if it were the direct result of age and not from a modern lead-zinc-silver mine, that it is.
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S13679 - Fluororichterite with Calcite - $150
Wilberforce, Monmouth Township, Ontario, Canada
Overall Size: 5 x 3.3 cm
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Nicely placed, doubly terminated fluororichterite to 2.5 cm rests hexagonally on matrix. These tend to chip and
splinter every which way when broken out of massive calcite. Here we have a totally damage free crystal from the
well-known locality of Wilberforce, Monmouth Township, Ontario, Canada.
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S13680 - Marialite - SOLD
Morogoro, Uluguru Mts., Morogoro Region, Tanzania
Overall Size: 5.7 x 3 cm
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Known for high quality and gemmy crystals, marialite, a member of the scapolite group, comes in wonderful straw yellow
from here. The kind collectors love. However, really good gem crystals of this mineral only come from Tanzania and to
a much lesser degree India, Brazil and Mozambique. Not complete on backside. Though, all large crystals I have seen
over the years lack completeness.
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S13681 - Aegirine - $1000
Mt. Malosa, Zomba District, Malawi
Overall Size: 18 x 2.7 cm
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MAJOR AEGIRINE at an alarming level for the mineral. Let me start by saying jumbo size doubly terminated crystals rarely
come up for sale, but when they do it is wise to grab these top-of-the-line specimens. This will have maximum display
impact in your home alongside other minerals, if for no other reason than size, towering I might add. No damage.
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