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. 

This exceptional Moldavite has excellent color, great texturing and is without damage. Pieces this good are hard to come by. It weighs 21.8 grams.

MOLDAVITE8 - Moldavite
$ 85.00 (=~ ¥ 12547.57) SOLD NET
Chlum, Moldau River valley, Czech Republic
miniature - 3.5 x 2.8 x 1.1 cm

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. 

 

For its size, this peice has great color, texture and it stands up by itself. It weighs 12.7 grams.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

OPAL7 - Boytroidal Opal
$ 95.00 (=~ ¥ 14023.76) SOLD
Durango, Mexico
miniature - 3.3 x 2.7 x 2.2 cm

This comes from a recent discovery of a small-scale mining operation around Durango, Mexico. Some of the pieces I looked at still had roots on them, indicating a deposit relatively close to the surface. the opal itself is remarkably clear and intact. The fluorescence is extreme under both long wave and short wave (short wave pictured). 

It's in great shape without any dings.

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OPAL8 - Boytroidal Opal
$ 125.00 (=~ ¥ 18452.31) SOLD
Durango, Mexico
miniature - 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.9 cm

This comes from a recent discovery of a small-scale mining operation around Durango, Mexico. Some of the pieces I looked at still had roots on them, indicating a deposit relatively close to the surface. The opal itself is remarkably clear and intact. The fluorescence is extreme under both long wave and short wave (short wave pictured). 

This piece has crystallized on a brownish chalcedony matrix. It comes mounted on a black acrylic base. It's in great shape, without any dings. 

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

OPAL9 - Boytroidal Opal
$ 115.00 (=~ ¥ 16976.13) SOLD
Durango, Mexico
thumbnail - 2.9 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm

This comes from a recent discovery of a small-scale mining operation around Durango, Mexico. Some of the pieces I looked at still had roots on them, indicating a deposit relatively close to the surface. the opal itself is remarkably clear and intact. The fluorescence is extreme under both long wave and short wave (short wave pictured). 

This piece is a neat miniature, where the opal seems to have "percolated," up on the chalcedony matrix. Mounted on black acrylic base. Pictures show both sides.

Without damage.

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

HEULANDITE1 - Heulandite with Stilbite
$ 95.00 (=~ ¥ 14023.76)
Jalgon, Maharashtra State, India
small cabinet - 8.0 x 6.3 x 5.3

This beautiful piece shows the aesthetic combination of pinkish/peach Heulandite and orangy/peach Stilbite. Although zeolites from India are common, really good ones are not common. This is a really good one, that shows dramatic forms and bright luster.  It's in fine condition, there is a minor piece cleaved off one of the smaller stilbites (not eye-catching).

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PLATINUM1 - Platinum with Gold
$ 235.00 (=~ ¥ 34690.35) SOLD NET
Konder massif, Ayan-Maya District, Kbabarovskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Russia
thumbnail - 6 x 5.5 x 3 mm

 

What goes better with Platinum than Gold? The guilded lilly of mineral specimens. These are hard to come by, as not many were covered in gold. 

It weighs .44 grams which is 2.20 carats.

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PLATINUM2 - Platinum with Gold
$ 185.00 (=~ ¥ 27309.42) SOLD NET
Konder massif, Ayan-Maya District, Kbabarovskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Russia
thumbnail - 4 x 3 x 3 mm

What goes better with Platinum than Gold? The guilded lilly of mineral specimens. These are hard to come by, as not many were covered in gold. 

This platinum crystal is rather cubic, so it is compact for its weight.

It weighs .38 grams = 1.9 carats. 

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(click on the pictures to enlarge)

QUARTZ28 - Quartz var. solution Quartz
$ 45.00 (=~ ¥ 6642.83) SOLD
Jeffrey Quarry, North Little Rock, Arkansas
small cabinet - 5.2 x 4.3 x 3.0 cm

This attractive cluster is a good example of solution quartz, which is a rather uncommon occurence world wide. The Jeffrey Quarry was closed in the 1980's, and is famous for producing these super clear Quartz clusters that were formed in a silica-rich solution. It's in fine condition, without any visible damage. I got this out of an old collection, it was probably collected in the early 1970's.