selections from a small new pocket discovered in August, 2009 of CELESTITE in large crystals, from South Africa

selections from a small new pocket discovered in August, 2009 of CELESTITE in large crystals, from South Africa

Celestite is rare and highly desired by collectors of Kalahari Manganese field minerals. Usually, it occurs only in small specimens, with small crystals. And they can be quite pricey, without competing on the worldwide stage for quality in this species. For the first time, I have seen celestines from here which DO compare favorably by standards of other locales, though they have a distinct form. These robust, larger crystals from this new find feature high lustre and a pearlescent shimmer to them, with strong pastel blue color. A small lot was available at the Munich Show, from which we picked this selection (perhaps only a dozen were of this quality, at the show).

US$ € EURO ¥ YEN £ POUND CAN$ AUS$
- 7 specimens selected - back to the Galleries

CELESW-06 - Celestine - ¥ 121212
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 7.4 x 5.6 x 3.0 cm

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A thin crust of matrix gives way to a plate of angular, chisel-headed crystals, to 2 cm across, of glassy and translucent, pastel-blue celestine. On this piece many of the crystals terminate in opposite directions, making it look larger than it actually is because they splay out so nicely. A few of the celestine crystals are also doubly terminated. This is a MAJOR specimen for the species, from South Africa! The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for status on a worldwide scale. The color, luster and form are both aesthetic and outstanding - and to my eye, quite unique in habit.

CELESW-07 - Celestine - ¥ 60606
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 6.0 x 4.3 x 2.3 cm

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Celestine from Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa [db_pics/new09/cz07a.jpg]

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Celestine from Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa [db_pics/new09/cz07c.jpg]

Emplaced on a thin crust of matrix, is a plate composed of intergrown crystals of angular, glassy and translucent, pastel-blue crystals of celestine, to 1.6 cm across. A few of the crystals are also doubly terminated. This is a MAJOR specimen for the species, from South Africa! The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for attention more globally

CELESW-05 - Celestine - ¥ 85859
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
miniature, 5.0 x 4.7 x 3.0 cm

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Celestine from Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa [db_pics/new09/cz05a.jpg]

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Celestine from Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa [db_pics/new09/cz05b.jpg]

Just a sliver of matrix underlies this specimen of intergrown, glassy and translucent, pastel-blue celestine. The lustre is fabulous, especially for this locality. The crystals reach 1.9 cm in length and intergrow i na complex arrangement like a cogwheel. The top is all pristine and complete, with only a broken crystal near the base (contacted). Most of the crystals exhibit angular chisel-headed terminations and a few are also doubly terminated. The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for status on a worldwide scale. The color, luster and form are both aesthetic and outstanding - and to my eye, quite unique in habit.

CELESW-04 - Celestine - ¥ 45455
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 7.3 x 4.3 x 3.1 cm

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This matrix specimen features a plate of angular, blunt-headed crystals, to 1.6 cm across, of glassy crystals. The color is a translucent pastel, light sky-blue. The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for attention more globally. The color, luster and form are both aesthetic and outstanding!

CELESW-02 - Celestine - ¥ 30303
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 5.7 x 4.1 x 3.9 cm

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Emplaced on matrix is a nest of glassy and translucent, pastel-blue crystals, of celestine, to 1 cm in length. Even though the crystals are intergrown, several clearly exhibit classic doubly terminated growth.

CELESW-03 - Celestine - ¥ 75758
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 6.7 x 5.1 x 4.2 cm

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This is easily the largest and best formed isolated crystal of celestine in this lot and a major piece for the locale in that regard. Perched on matrix are glassy and translucent crystals of pastel blue celelestine, to 2.25 cm across. Two of the larger crystals on the backside are also doubly terminated. The front is beautiful, with the blue clashing against the glittering little jewels of calcite crystals on the matrix under the celestine. The back has some small damage at the base of the crystal cluster, which you can see in the photo of the back side, but the front and display face is intact and that upright celestine is pristine. The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for attention more globally. The color, luster and form are both aesthetic and outstanding!

CELESW-01 - Celestine - ¥ 75758
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
miniature, 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.4 cm

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This is a very interesting crescent-shaped specimen, composed of translucent, pastel blue, celestine crystals to 1.8 cm in length. The lustre is very high, almost glassy. The crystals all resemble angular spear or arrow heads with the points facing in a downward position and blunt tips facing out. The style is uniquely Wessels Mine...classic in appearance, just an order of magnitude BIGGER than anything we have previously seen from here. Formerly this locality produced "locality pieces" of celestine. This is the first pocket I have seen that really competes for attention more globally. The color, luster and form are both aesthetic and outstanding!

- 7 specimens selected - back to the Galleries

Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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