This gem quality bi-colored indicolite-verdelite tourmaline is also a double terminated floater. It has a complex termination on one end and a flatter termination on the other (both pictured, with backlighting to exhibit color zoning). The color is rich, moving from classic green to a lighter blue. The first image was photographed by Jeff Scovil, at this most recent Springfield show. (He thought it an ideal candidate to demonstrate a key photographic method he employs when shooting Tourmaline, so he shot it for free!). It is free from any damage. It was mined around 2005, when I originally acquired it. It was sold to Steve Dowell and later we got it back as an important piece in his entire collection. It weighs 78.5 grams (392 carats). It comes with a custom Lucite base. 

This piece has real eye-appeal, as well as a "proper," size as it fills the hand well. The Pakistan/Afganistan mineral market has skyrocketted in the last 3 years, leaving very few high end crystals available for purchase for anything less than a ridiculously high price. In Tucson I would imagine a crystal of this caliber being priced in the $100 per gram range or higher.

TOURM26 - Tourmaline Var. Tri-Color Elbaite
$ 650.00 SOLD
Near Stak Nala, Pakistan
miniature - 4.2 x 2.0 x 1.7 cm

This was by far the best crystal from a large lot of over a kilo of Tourmaline from this unique location. I acquired the lot from a high-end dealer who preriodically had to buy material to keep certain miners fed, in an area where he was speculating a "major" piece may be found (think $50k+). In the lot most were bi-colored, but a few were tri-colored. Tri-Colored Tourmalines are exceedingly rare. This one is orangy-red to a clear-blue, to a green and finally black (so technically four color zones!). It weighs 27 grams. there are two crystals that have grown together (the termination lifts "up" at one side). This mining area never came into any meaningful production, and this piece remains one of, if not the best example found. Originally found in 2007, sold to Steve Dowell and recently reacquired with his entire collection.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

MOLDAVITE5 - Moldavite
$ 149.00 SOLD NET
Chlum, Moldau River valley, Czech Republic
miniature - 4.5 x 3.2 x 1.7 m

This is a fine example of Moldavite. It weighs 18.6 grams. It is damage free, has great color and texture. It's overall shape is quite pleasing, much like a 'flame.'

Moldavite is a green tektite. A tektite is an impact glass, created due to the impact of a meteorite with the earth's crust. It is believed that the meteorite that created the Ries Kessel (a massive 15 mile diameter crater), 120 miles away in Germany "splashed," hot material into the atmosphere that cooled as it fell back to Earth. This impact material, landed across a relatively small (10 to 15 square mile) area in the current Czech Republic. This impact event is dated around 15 million years ago. Moldavite miners must dig holes to access this old layer in which the Moldavite is found. Moldavite is typically quite small, with the largest pieces generally available, weighing between 30 to 50 grams (up to 6-7 cm long). Moldavite is valued for its size (larger pieces are much rarer), condition (lack of damage), an attractive green color, and how textured, or "spikey," the surface is. 

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

SPESSARTINE4 - Garnet var.Spessartine
$ 85.00 SOLD
Navegador Mine, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil
miniature - 3.7 x 2.3 x 1.8

This unique Garnet was first mined in 2003. I was in Brazil at the time and got to see most of the entire find. Not often seen were associations with Apatite, and boytroidal opal. The garnets formed in large domes of Clevelandite. They were typially loose inside their pockets. Often refferred to as "etched," I favor the articles that instead reveal the parrallel growth crystallization as a unique phenomenon and that they are not etched by natural exposure to acids in the pocket. This peice comes from the Hawthorneden inventory. It has good red color (not brownish), and an interesting shape that resembles a scepter. It comes mounted on an acryllic base.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

TOURM25 - Tourmaline Var. Bi-color Elbaite
$ 85.00 SOLD
Morro Redondo, Minas Gerais, Brazil
miniature - 4.4 x .6 x .6 cm

This interesting Gem Tourmaline exhibits two color zones and is slightly etched. Its etched nature makes it slightly scepter-like.  It weighs 2.1 grams (11 carats). It is damage-free, and fully crystallized. 

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

QUARTZ23 - Quartz with Chlorite inclusions
$ 225.00 SOLD
St. Gotthard, Kanton Uri, Switzerland
cabinet - 11.6 x 6.0 x 4.7 cm

This a hard-to-find location for a beautiful Quartz point. We got this out of the Hawthorneden unprepped flats, which means they probably bought this in Munich or in Switzerland, back in the 1990's or earlier. The Quartz is internally flawless, and has a slight green coating of Chlorite. It has two side crystals, all are undamaged. It weighs 371 grams (13 oz). It is brighter in person, and is overall a fine example of Swiss Quartz.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

QUARTZ22 - Quartz w/ Tourmaline and Lepidolite
$ 2500.00 SOLD
Pederneira Mine, Sao Jose Da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
cabinet - 9.5 x 7.5 x 5.0 cm

This beautiful piece has a spray of gemmy watermellon Tourmaline, and translucent purple/pink Lepidolite integrating a transparent Quartz crystal. It has so many angles to view its unique qualities, it really is a conversation piece. When you look into the Quartz point, you can see the "rays," of pinkish lepidolite extending into the crystal, also there is a gem green Tourmaline that terminates inside the Quartz. Green and Watermellon Tourmaline crystals grow all over the Quartz, with The largest tourmaline  (6.7 cm long (2.75 inches) crystallizing at a 90 degree angle to the Quartz ad terminating without damage. Its in great condition overall with only one of the smallest tourmalines with a glassy (broken) end. It comes on a custom Lucite base. Ex. Steve Dowell collection.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

PEZZOTTAITE1 - Beryl Var. Pezzottaite
$ 125.00 SOLD NET
Sakavalana Mine, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.3 x .8 cm

This is a colorful, gemmy example of the Cesium-rich Beryl from the type locality. We were fortunate enough to get a mention in the Mineralogical Record that covered the Tucson 2011 Main show regarding what a value our Pezzottaites were. The crystal isn't broken, it's naturally tabular and quite transparent. This material is scarce and quite expensive, if this crystal had distinct crystallized faces it would be in the $500+ range.

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