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(numbered ERONGO09-301 to 340) selections from a new pocket discovered in August, 2009 of intense blue AQUAMARINE on SCHORL from the ERONGO MOUNTAINS, NAMIBIA
ERONGO09-26 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 196 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.6 x 6.2 x 4.5 cm
Perched on a matrix of white feldspar is a cluster of glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine crystals, to 4.6 cm in length along with a cluster of lustrous, black, schorl crystals to 3.5 cm in length. Both the largest aqua and largest schorl are doubly terminated. Some contact or damage to the terminal faces of the other aquas on this specimen does exist. Nevertheless, its an attractive piece with excellent color and appeal
ERONGO09-27 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 236 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 9.1 x 7.0 x 5.3 cm
Crystallized, white feldspar is the matrix for this specimen which has a cluster of lustrous, black, schorl crystals to 2.5 cm across, upon which are emplaced glassy and gemmy, intensely-colored aquamarine crystals to 3.25 cm in length. The overall stark contrast of crystal form, color, and texture is very interesting. A druse of bubbly hyalite opal covers a portion of the schorl crystals. Like many pieces in the pocket, regrettably the terminations of the aquas do exhibit minor abrasions; but in context, I can live with it for the overall aesthetics featuring such well-defined and isolated crystals.
ERONGO09-28 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 471 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8.0 x 6.4 x 4.3 cm
This is an intergrown specimen of white feldspar, with aquamarine and schorl clusters. The aquas, to 3.25 cm in length, are glassy and gemmy, and are intensely colored blue. The large crystal sis 1.5 x 1.25 cm wide atop. The schorls are lustrous, black and reach 3.0 cm across. Minor wear to some of the aqua terminations is not significant but it is admittedly present, as with many in this pocket. Overal though, this presents a very fine, 3-dimensional display view with teh aqua starkly contrastin gto the plate of schorls beneath
ERONGO09-29 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 943 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 7.5 x 5.5 x 3.4 cm
A dramatic, elongated aquamarine is aesthetically perched on an ivory colored feldspar crystal, angling into the middle. It is accented by clusters of schorl and aquamarine, which make for wonderful contrast and serve to enhance the freestanding 3-dimensionality above. The aquas are glassy and gemmy, and are intensely colored a vivid blue. Moreover, the largest aqua which measures 5.7 cm in length, is also doubly-terminated and pristine. It is in fact among the more perfect aquas in this lot. The schorl crystals are lustrous, black and reach 1.5 cm in length. The only possible downgrade here are a few very minor breaks to associated schorls and the downward-pointing aquamarine mixed in them. Overall, and on the business top end of the piece, this is a killer. Very showy specimen!
ERONGO09-30 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 1179 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 9.3 x 4.3 x 4.1 cm
This is a very sculptural, unlikely assemblage: A cluster of aquamarine crystals exhibits "en echelon" growth on smaller schorl crystals and a bit of matrix host (ivory colored feldspar). The two largest aqua crystals, to 5.5 cm in length, are doubly terminated, and all are glassy and gemmy with an intense blue color. The schorls are lustrous, black, and reach 1.5 cm in length. Overall condition is good with only minor dings on the terminal faces of the aquas. Aesthetic and elegant to the point that it looks glued together...but is not.
ERONGO09-31 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 707 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8.2 x 5.8 x 3.7 cm
Most of the 15 or so glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine crystals rise vertically from a schorl and feldspar matrix. However, the largest of these aquas lies horizontally across the smack-dab middle specimen. It is doubly-terminated, and 5.9 cm in length, and beautiful. The schorls have good luster, are black and reach 2.0 cm in length. I really am impressed that almost all the aquas are terminated , with very little wear.
ERONGO09-32 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 1572 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia cabinet, 12.3 x 9.1 x 6.4 cm
Ivory colored feldspar hosts lustrous, black, schorl in crystals to 2 cm in length. These then form the matrix for a carpet of thick, glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine crystals that shoot out all over the place. At the cluster atop, they reach 4 cm in length. Except for some very minor peripheral wear, the aquas that stud this specimen are in excellent condition, especially given their 3-dimensional spray and vulnerability. The piece has no damage to the major crystals and only one broken crystal of any size, at the bottom of the main cluster and really not that distracting (but the price otherwise would , in turn, be higher). The lustre and color is really tops, for this pocket and the locale as a whole. A fine example of Erongo aquamarine in LARGE size for the price range.
ERONGO09-33 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 982 Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 9.1 x 7.8 x 5.9 cm
This is one of the most balanced pieces, aesthetically, for blue-on-black, in my whole lot. Fine, lustrous black schorl crystals, to 3 cm across, form the matrix for this specimen. They make up a roseate cluster, complete 360 degrees. The largest schorl crystal is also doubly-terminated. Rising from the center of the schorls are a half dozen, glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquas with the largest reaching 4 cm in length (from its base within the cluster, 3.5 cm freestanding). Only the very slightest wear on some crystal edges has occurred, and otherwise this specimen is pristine. For this particular pocket, where many of the pieces had damage and my source had to be very careful in picking the better specimens, this is remarkable given the exposure of that crystal. Although not the biggest, or most rich in aquas, I value this highly for its stark, simple contrast of both geometry of form and color.
ERONGO09-34 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 314 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.1 x 5 x 3 cm
Emplaced on ivory-colored feldspar are lustrous, black schorl crystals, to 2.0 cm in length. Perched on the schorl are a few glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquas, to 4.25 cm in length. This is a piece with great contrast and super quality, totally representative of the contrasting association that will make this pocket remembered.
ERONGO09-35 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 354 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.2 x 5.7 x 4.0 cm
Smothering a mound of ivory colored feldspar, are lustrous, black schorls to 3.0 cm aross: the largest of which is doubly-terminated. Perched on the schorl are several glassy and gemmy, intensely-colored aquas to 4.0 cm in length. Minor, but unimportant, wear on some crystal edges and terminations of the small associated aquas is present but the main crystal of approx 4 x 1 x 1 cm is in excellent condition.
ERONGO09-36 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 471 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.0 x 4.6 x 4.5 cm
Two crystals of glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine, to 3.75 cm in length, are aesthetically perched on a matrix of ivory colored feldspar and lustrous, black schorls to 3.0 cm across. Although there is a small bit of edge wear on some crystal edges, the scuptural and textural quality of this piece is superb and balances that little detraction at the right price.
ERONGO09-37 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 314 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.7 x 5.4 x 3.9 cm
This is a jewel-like, attractive combo specimen of schorl and aquamarine on ivory colored feldspar. The lustrous, black schorls reach 2.25 cm across and the glassy and gemmy, intensely-colored aquas reach 2.1 cm in length. This specimen exhibits a pleasing sculptural form and has among the best glassy lustre and gemminess in the lot. It is a miniature or small cab depending on how displayed (lengthwise, as shown, a small cab)
ERONGO09-38 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 1375 Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.8 x 6.6 x 6.4 cm
Nearly a complete foater, this specimen features intergrown, lustrous, black schorl crystals, to 2.5 cm across, upon which rises a pristine, single, thick, glassy and gemmy, intensely-colored, aquamarine crystal... An absolutely elegant specimen! In fact this is one of the more starkly dramatic of the specimens in this size range, and is really superb from ANY angle at all. The large upright crystal is 3 x 1.5 x 1.2 cm in size.
ERONGO09-39 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 1375 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia cabinet, 12.8 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm
What makes this combination specimen of schorl and aquamarine special is that it ALSO contains two spear-like crystals of smoky quartz, to 4.5 cm in length. Quartz seems rare in this pocket at least. Additonally, this plate of feldspar matrix is smothered by lustrous, black, schorl crystals to 2.75 cm across; and a bevy of glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine crystals to 4.0 cm in length. A few aquas exhibit very minor wear on their terminations but it is trivial in context, and the piece overall has a very stark and fine separation to the crystals which highlights their sharp form. Lastly, the right side of the specimen is coated liberally by hyalite opal in small white crystals. .
ERONGO09-40 - Aquamarine with Schorl - € 1414 SOLD Erongo Mountain, Usakos District, Erongo Region, Namibia cabinet, 10.9 x 8.2 x 5.1 cm
This specimen is highlighted by large, intergrown, lustrous , black schorl crystals, to 2.5 cm; and glassy and gemmy, intensely colored, blue aquamarine crystals, with one to 6 cm in length. The three largest aqua crystals are doubly-terminated! And pristine... At the bottom of the specimen, two aquas are broken at the base, but this pales to insignificance. Otherwise all is complete and the contrast of blue on black is, really, striking.
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