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S12780 - Sodalite - $1650 SOLD
Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Overall Size: 5.5 x 5 cm
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Three extremely well defined bright blue dodecahedral sodalites sit frozen in matrix. These highly pronounced
crystals to 1.6 cm are by far the sharpest I have seen. Textbook illustrations in person! PLUS, the color is
stable and you don't have to run outside every week to recharge your specimen in direct sunlight like
hackmanite, ha. In good condition, 5.5 x 5 cm.
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S12781 - Smithsonite - $1100 SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
Overall Size: 8 x 5.1 cm
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The Tsumeb mine was one of few international mines to produce several shades of smithsonite in very attractive
rhombohedral groups. Some were fully impregnated with cadmium giving off a warm glow. Xl measures up to 2.2
cm on edge. The piece has been hiding in a private collection until now for over three if not four decades,
its first public internet debut! Quite a snazzy piece from here.
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S12782 - Smithsonite (Var. Cuprian) - $13000 SOLD
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
Overall Size: 22 x 14.2 cm
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This superb museum-sized plate elicits complete astonishment by those few Tsumeb specialists who saw it! IN FACT,
a limited number of TRULY large evergreen smithsonites were found at the mine and the only other 22 x 14.2 cm
specimen in recent times was offered for sale at twice this price and with no less display impact. Several spiky knobs
cascading over matrix give the piece character and variation to an otherwise overwhelmingly botryoidal mineral most of
the time. Smithsonites containing enough copper to reach maximum green saturation and not be overdone are highly
treasured in collections, and this is one such example. If you have an itch for world-class masterpieces from the
legendary mine then this wonderful marvel of nature should do the trick.
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S12783 - Lazurite after Phlogopite - $385
Sar-e-Sang District, Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Overall Size: 5.5 x 4.7 cm
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An excellent example of unchanged phlogopite in original form that has pseudomorphed to dark royal-blue lazurite
to give the piece a "false form" though its dead giveaway is its easily recognizable morphology and foliated
edge. The results have a definite wow factor for those into mineralogy. Pseudo measures 1.8 cm.
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S12786 - Grossular (Var. Tsavorite) with Graphite - $700 SOLD
Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Overall Size: 2.7 x 2 cm
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This gem nugget has a lot of punch to it! Very transparent and several times richer than normal mint green grossular
places this grade of crystal with some of the most valuable and rarest garnets in the gemological and mineral world.
A true tsavorite! AND though small, it is on matrix, A JEWEL.
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S12790 - Elbaite with Albite (Var. Cleavelandite) - $400 SOLD
Naipa Mine, Alto Ligonha, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Overall Size: 9 x 5.6 cm
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Collectors familiar with Alto Ligonha tourmaline know singles almost entirely account for all of the production, and
always have since the early 1930s. Until this fresh new find came out of the ground two months ago we only saw a
matrix piece here and there from the current operators. Spectacular large blades of cleavelandite wrap around
bluish green elbaite measuring 2.8 cm long. Very transparent in person.
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S12791 - Elbaite - $300
Momeik, Mandalay Division, Myanmar
Overall Size: 9.2 x 6.3 cm
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Magnificent mushroom-shaped tourmaline crystals of bubble gum-pink color have been a hallmark of the district
for years and this waterfall of crystals trickling over snow white matrix is very representative. A lot of tourmaline
for the price, 9.2 x 6.3 cm.
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S12792 - Hafnon with Fluornatromicrolite - $3450 SOLD
Naipa Mine, Alto Ligonha, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Overall Size: 7.8 x 6 cm
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If hafnon, it would be one of the finest known examples in combination with fluornatromicrolite. The species does occur
naturally in tantalum-bearing pegmatites in the Zambezia province of Mozambique though extremely rare, some prove
to be the real thing and others are misidentified zircon without sufficient enough hafnium to validate them. Update,
X-ray diffraction has confirmed it to be Hafnon!
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S12793 - Liddicoatite with Londonite - $175 SOLD
Antsongombato Gem Mine, Betafo District, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Overall Size: 9.3 x 7 cm
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The pegmatites of Madagascar are world famous for their production of fine liddicoatite in deep violet to wine-red
color as well as a rainbow of other hues. Aside from the well-known londonites found at the locality, it also has
some pretty raspberry tourmalines that come in contrasting whitish microcline matrix, 9.3 x 7 cm.
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S12794 - Lorenzenite - $350
Flora Mt., Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Overall Size: 5 x 4 cm
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Large 4 x 2.3 cm lorenzenite set in splintery dark gray to black aegirine. Usually abundant in smaller crystals and
easily available over the last two decades after Russian material entered the mainstream mineral
market. Very choice miniature.
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S12795 - Quartz (Var. Amethyst) - $165 SOLD
Diamond Willow Mine, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada
Overall Size: 6.5 x 5.5 cm
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Worldwide quartz localities have produced an astounding number of crystals; however, some amethyst, such as
this one, STILL remain unique and quite different in appearance due to a vail of bright red specular hematite
inclusions. Showy
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S12796 - Liddicoatite - $200
Minh Tien Mine, Luc Yen District, Yenbai Province, Vietnam
Overall Size: 4.5 x 3.6 cm
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Nice! Slightly divergent growth adds additional character to this thick multi-terminated "watermelon" liddicoatite
from this part of the world. Great piece to round out a locality suite.
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S12797 - Liddicoatite with Quartz - SOLD
Antsongombato Gem Mine, Betafo District, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
Overall Size: 5.7 x 4 cm
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2.5 x 1.5 cm crystal. The pegmatites of Madagascar are world famous for their production of fine liddicoatite in deep
violet to wine-red color as well as a rainbow of other hues. Aside from the well-known londonites found at the locality,
it also has some pretty raspberry tourmalines that come in grainy quartz matrix.
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S12798 - Calcite with Celestine - $150
Faylor Middle Creek Quarry, Winfield Union Co., Pennsylvania
Overall Size: 5.4 x 3.7 cm
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Held back for years by a private collector. This slender light blue celestine to 3.4 cm with this gemmy pale golden
calcite to 2.3 cm is from a locally known quarry. Some minor scuffs here and there.
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S12799 - Andradite (Var. Topazolite) - $150 SOLD
Yellow Cat Mine, New Idria District, San Benito Co., California
Overall Size: 4.3 x 3.2 cm
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At this locality, the rarest of all vein filling clinochlore forms in shrinkage cracks, its varietal name is penninite and
is by far the most alluring association coating altered serpentine. Its dark backdrop quickly captures two
small BUT very sharp topazolite garnets.
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