I have seen only a very few blue topaz in matrix from Brazil, and not another such as this, with a sharp blue gem perched on a large quartz crystal! At 8 x 7.5 x 4 cm, the topaz is a good size and significant on its own, and it is literally stuck in a crevasse between two intergrown quartz points. The quartz is terminated, thought etched in back. It is even nearly pristine - just a few very trivial dings mar the large quartz. The topaz itself is pristine and complete all around except for a few very nearly invisible contact points where it attached to another bit of quartz. Even its underside is floating free and clear of the quartz and is roughly terminated, making it a "floater". The top termination is SHARP and has a broad chisel-point termination, leading to razor-sharp, etched side faces. Small bits of sparkling, micaceous-looking lepidolite cling to the center of the topaz and run down its front in a vein , to the quartz. Overall, this is a unique specimen, large and impactful as it sets the topaz high up and easily lit. In fact, the photos do not do it justice. When backlit, the light goes through the quartz and topaz both, and the piece glows. I have not seen another like this, and certainly I feel at the price point, another is unlikely. It could as easily be twice the price, but that I got it reasonably myself in a large specimen, in need of a trim. So we took off a big chunk of massive quartz at the bottom, and now the piece stands quite nicely on its own, and is more balanced.

A central 3.2 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm emerald crystal, translucent and gemmy, sits amidst a nest of stark white calcite. Importantly the calcite is crystallized - the best kind of matrix on these. The emerald has a very gemmy tip, and the rest of the crystal is quite translucent. It is a medium green in color, by gem dealer standards, but this is a color that I find very pleasing and fine for a specimen. As well, the contrast of white on green is dramatic. Long in the collection of Steven Sinotte and Rebecca Stewart, they bought this directly from one of the sources, and I agree with their feeling that this is a very special, balanced, display miniature. There are many emeralds to be had, and choosing one requires a compromise of gemminess, color, aesthetics, matrix, etc...this piece really has most qualities you would want, and for the price range I thought a very impressive specimen

This is a Ryker Mount box with approx. 20 crystals of varying shapes and sizes, of boleite. They are mostly cubic, in habit. These are from the famous late 1970s re-exploration of this prospect by Larson and Swoboda. Sizes reach 7mm, with most being very sharp

A HUGE spinel for the locale, with unusual hot pink-red color. The central crystal in the cluster is to 5 cm on edge, an dnearly pristine (just a minor amount of insignificant edge wear exists). These were found recently, in the end of 2009. This cluster is 162 grams and complete all around, very 3-dimensional. And NOTE when cut, the finest of this locality of the hot strawberry pinks bring up to $25,000 a carat! There are probably gem zones inside if you cob it, small ones anyhow. But most specimens from this find are small and partial. Large crystals like this were exceedingly rare. This is one of the largest my sources know of from the find, in complete and worthy specimen quality