Fire opal has been found in Ethiopia for many years, however this new deposit also known as 'desert opal,' typically has a white silica base, compared to the previous finds that were brown or occasionally black. Desert opal can be brilliant and colorful. It is a relatively new deposit, and as such untested for very long time horizons (like Australian). I've sorted thorugh many high grade pieces I've held back for many years to find a match to this fully polished free form cut opal. The color play is red, green, yellow and orange. The fire is way better in person. High grade pieces such as these are hard to get now. The rough piece weighs 11.5 carats, the polished free form weighs  6.2 carats.

RUBY1 - Ruby in Muscovite
$ 125.00 SOLD
Chhumar Mines, Ganesh Himal, Nepal
miniature - 4.7 x 2.5 x 2.9 cm

A fine example from a classic location, in the Himalayas. It has a pleasant contrast of purplish-red and apple green, the longest ruby crystals are 2 cm.

23.2 grams. Relatively complete, no obvious damage.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

SILVER2 - Silver on Acanthite
$ 350.00 SOLD
Himmelsfurst Mine, Bucholz, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
miniature - 4.4 x 4.5 x 3.0 cm

Well formed black Acanthite sets the structure for medium thick wires of branching bronze-patinad silver crystals. 

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

PHENAKITE3 - Phenakite
$ 950.00 SOLD
Sao Miguel de Piracicaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
miniature - 3.4 x 2.9 x 3.1 cm

This is a fantastic cluster of massive phenakite crystals. The largest crystal is 3.3 cm across. Phenakites this size are exceptionally rare. There are three smaller phenakites on the backside of the massive one. Phenakites from this mine tend to be rather cloudy, but these are rather transparent. It has a contact at the bottom of the large crystal where it attached to another crystal. It has some embedded mica crystals. Fantastic piece. 25.8 grams.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

FLUORITE13 - Fluorite
$ 475.00 SOLD
Riemvasmaak, Kakamas Dist. Northern Cape Prov., South Africa
small cabinet - 7.1 x 5.7 x 3.7 cm

These attractive lime green fluorites often occur covered in Quartz, in this remote south African mine. As part of the prepping, the fluorites are immersed in Hydrofluoric acid (think of the blood in the movie Alien that dissolves metal) that dissolves Quartz but not the Fluorite. There are current major problems with production at the mine, and future mining is uncertain.

This piece is remarkably bright and tranparent. The saturated green color seems unreal it's so strong. Numerous octohedral crystals are stacked on one another.139 grams.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

RHODOCHROSITE7 - Rhodochrosite on matrix
$ 895.00 SOLD
Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
miniature - 3.8 x 3.2 x 2.6 cm

I got this out of an old collection recently. The Rhodochrosite crystal measures 2.9 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. The crystal is rich crimson red, gemmy and facet-grade. 

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

PHENAKITE4 - Phenakite
$ 195.00 SOLD
Anjanabonoina Pegmatites, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
miniature - 3.2 x 1.0 x 1.2 cm

Sharp transparent crystal. Gemmy. No damage.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

TOURM49 - Tourmaline Var. Bi-color Elbaite
$ 95.00 SOLD NET
Cruzeiro Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
thumbnail - 1.8 x .9 x .7 cm

A stunning bi-color red and green gemmy tourmaline. Classic cruzeiro bi-color thumbnail.

2.4 grams / 12 carats.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

TSAVORITE1 - Garnet Var. Tsavorite
$ 275.00 SOLD
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mtns., Arusha Region, Tanzania
thumbnail - 1.6 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm

Gemmy, bright, apple-green color. It's mostly double terminated. Complete top termination, bottom termination is contacted partially. 3.8 grams/19 carats.

---

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

TSAVORITE2 - Garnet Var. Tsavorite
$ 249.00 SOLD
Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mtns., Arusha Region, Tanzania
thumbnail - 1.8 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm

Three gemmy green Tsavorites clustered together. No damage to the crystals, some contact on backside.Bright.3.0 grams/15 carats

(click on a page number to go to that page:)

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18

 page 9 / 18  -  prev  -  172 specimens selected  -  next  -  top  -  Home