selections from a small new pocket discovered in August, 2009 of gem-quality PHENAKITE crystals from JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA

selections from a small new pocket discovered in August, 2009 of gem-quality PHENAKITE crystals from JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA

A big surprise at the Denver 2009 show was the release of specimens from this small find (rumoured to have been only a few kilos of material in total) of GEMMY phenakite with internal brilliance and external mirror-like lustre, combined with complex patterning the like of which is novel for the species. Despite decades of mining gem rough from the Jos Plateau, nothing like this has been seen. They look for all the world like colorless spessartine garnets (but with better internal flash). This material first turned up in Thailand, in early August, where half the parcel had been sent for cutting; and a travelling US Mineral and Gem dealer recognized its value as speicmens when by chance they crossed paths. He highgraded the first 4 pieces in this update from that lot (at per-carat prices): the others then, sadly, went to the cutters. It turns out that two men found the material and split it: One took the easy way out and sent his all for cutting in Bangkok; while the other took his half to the Denver show to sell as cutting rough. From that second half of the find, I then secured the material with good crystal form so that this update comprises a very large portion of the recovered crystals.

NOTE: THESE ARE MUCH MORE GEMMY AND CLEAN IN PERSON, THAN PHOTOS MAKE THEM APPEAR !

US$ € EURO ¥ YEN £ POUND CAN$ AUS$
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page 1 / 2 - 20 specimens selected - next - bottom - back to the Galleries

PHEN09-23 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.5 x 3.0 x 2.2 cm

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A fat, complex crystal massing 37 grams, and like many other here, just mesmerizing in its complexity and clarity. Complete all around except for the bottom face, it is like a faceted garnet in appearance, more than any sort of phenakite I have seen previously. A few small dings lurk in the complexity of natural faces, hence the lower price than it would otherwise command...but this is trivial to some collectors, and honestly hard to spot, so its a relative deal. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). Similar to #19, I rank this one of the absolute highest for outright quality!

PHEN09-22 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.3 x 2.7 x 1.8 cm

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Mesmerizing in its complexity, this 20-gram crystal has a lot of surface area for the price. It is complete all around except a small bottom contact where it must have been attached to a larger mass. It has ultimate lustre and gemminess, like #19 and#20 above. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). Similar to #19, I rank this one of the absolute highest for outright quality!

PHEN09-20 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.3 x 2.8 x 1.9 cm

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Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0920a.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0920a.jpg]

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:
Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0920c.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0920c.jpg]

A STUNNINGLY gemmy, absolutely pristine , 100% gem clean specimen that I regard as perhaps gram-for-gram the finest specimen in this lot. It is mesmerizing in its complexity and in its jewel-like form. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). Similar to #19, I rank this one of the absolute highest for outright quality!

PHEN09-19 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.5 x 2.3 x 2.7 cm

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Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0919a.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0919a.jpg]

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Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0919b.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0919b.jpg]

A STUNNINGLY gemmy, absolutely pristine , 100% gem clean specimen that I regard as perhaps gram-for-gram the finest specimen in this lot. It is mesmerizing in its complexity and in its jewel-like form. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity).

PHEN09-18 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.4 cm

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At 100 grams in mass, this is my single largest specimen by far, and one of the 2 largest saved from the cutting mills that have any good form at all (to my knowledge of the find). The crystal is complete all around and shimmers with light reflecting off its complex faces. It has a few small dings, and a few contact depressions in back, where it grew against something else, but is technically complete all around (a floater) and in any case is the most robust and fine large crystal of this lot. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). At several inches tall, this is a major world-class phenakite specimen

PHEN09-17 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 4.2 x 3.7 x 2.9 cm

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Another HUGE specimen of cutting grade phenakite, 59-grams, that is among the largest saved from cutting, this is a total GEM in person! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb miniature-sized crystal.The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-16 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 4.4 x 3.6 x 3.1 cm

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A HUGE 60-gram specimen of cutting grade phenakite, that is among the largest saved from cutting, this is a total GEM in person! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb miniature-sized crystal. It is a floater, complete all around except for a few small conchoidal dings ( but still, this is hard to spot!). The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-15 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.0 x 2.4 x 1.9 cm

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A SHARP and exceedingly gemmy 20-gram crystal, showing the lustrous, brilliant faces of this find. Killer presentation on the front display face, and it is a floater all around, as well. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-13 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.7 x 1.4 cm

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A 30-gram specimen that is among the few crystals saved from cutting with such elongate crystal form, and a normal looking termination atop, this is a total GEM in person! Sadly, there is a thumbn-print-sized conchoidal cleave out of the back of the termination, but nonetheless it looks great from the front and so is now a reduced price, as well. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-12 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
thumbnail, 2.8 x 1.5 x 1.4 cm

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Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0912a.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0912a.jpg]

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:
Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0912b.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0912b.jpg]

A SHARP and exceedingly gemmy crystal, showing the lustrous, brilliant faces of this find. Killer presentation on the front display face, though cleaved conchoidally in the back. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-11 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.0 x 1.9 cm

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CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:	CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:

An unusual 18-gram specimen that has an oddly columnar form to it, this is a total GEM in person! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb miniature-sized crystal. It is a floater, complete all around. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-10 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 4.1 x 3.0 x 2.6 cm

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Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0910b.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0910b.jpg]

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:
Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0910c.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0910c.jpg]

A 48-gram specimen that is among the largest half dozen or so crystals saved from cutting, this is a total GEM in person! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb miniature-sized crystal. It is a floater, complete all around except for a small conchoidal fracture off the back of one termination (or the price would be double - but still, this is hard to spot!). The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity). MUCH BETTER IN PERSON

PHEN09-09 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.2 x 2.1 cm

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CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:	CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:

RAZOR-SHARP crystallography makes this one stand out. In person this 14-gram floater is a total GEM! Even amongst this lot, it is exceptionally gemmy! IT GLOWS with sparkle, internal and external. The piece has more robust crystal faces than most others in the lot, as well. It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb , competition-grade thumbnail crystal. It is a floater, complete all around. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity).

PHEN09-08 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
miniature, 3.1 x 2.9 x 2.6 cm

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In person this 32-gram floater is a total GEM! It is fat and gorgeous and exceptionally gemmy! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb small miniature sized crystal. It is a floater, complete all around. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity).

PHEN09-07 - Phenakite - SOLD
Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.3 x 2.3 cm

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER IMAGE:
Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0907c.jpg]

Phenakite from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria [db_pics/new09/ph0907c.jpg]

In person this 22-gram floater is a total GEM! It looks for all the world like a garnet at first glance and like no phenakite I have seen before, with typical surface complexity. But it is, instead, one of these new phenakites - a superb large "boxbuster" thumbnail crystal. It is a floater, complete all around. The crystal itself is absolutely colorless, a pure colorlessness that adds to the gemminess of the specimen in person (and makes it extremely hard to photograph because light refracts off all the hundreds of facets and faces here, bouncing back and forth through the crystal and making the camera unable to capture its true clarity).

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

page 1 / 2 - 20 specimens selected - next - top - back to the Galleries

Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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