New Finds - South Africa And Namibia

12 specimens selected...
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12 specimens selected - back to the Galleries

MUN08-01 - Braunite - € 1532
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
miniature, 5.0 x 3.6 x 1.8 cm

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A brilliantly lustrous, sparkling-metallic plate composed of solid braunite on which are perched a half dozen shockingly sharp and lustrous larger crystals of braunite. The complex form of these crystals is novel, and they had to be analysed to find out their identity (per Charlie Key, pers. comm.). This piece is one of the richest we have, and overall perhaps the most attractive. It has crystals to 8mm.

MUN08-02 - Braunite - € 1379
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
small cabinet, 6.3 x 5.3 x 4.1 cm

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This large matrix specimen hosts brilliantly lustrous, sparkling-metallic braunite crystals - about 4 nice large ones atop and many minute crystals elsewhere. The large crystals are to 9mm in size and are shockingly sharp and lustrous for the species. The complex form of these crystals is novel, and they had to be analysed to find out their identity (per Charlie Key, pers. comm.). This piece is one of the richest we have.

MUN08-03 - Braunite - € 728
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm

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This toenail-sized specimen , properly a small miniature, is a solid cluster of these cogwheel-like, super-lustrous, jet black crystals (to 4mm) in a cluster. Rich, pretty, and an excellent representative from this new find.

MUN08-04 - Braunite - € 1149
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
thumbnail, 2.9 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm

Sorry, we have no images of this specimen at present.

MUN08-05 - Braunite with Bixbyite - € 1149
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
miniature, 5.5 x 4.6 x 2.3 cm

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A very rich specimen with these sharp new braunites (to 4 mm), of incredible lustre and brightness, surrounding sharp bixbyite crystals to 6mm.

MUN08-06 - Braunite - € 345
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
miniature, 4.0 x 3.2 x 1.7 cm

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A sharp, isolated 8mm crystal, that is complete all around and doubly-terminated, is the highlight of this specimen. The crystal is sharp and super lustrous, quite unlike previous finds here. The crystal sits on matrix of sparkling microcrystallized braunite

MUN08-07 - Braunite - € 1532
Wessels Mine, Kalahari, South Africa
thumbnail, 1.7 x 1.6 x 1.1 cm

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A super thumbnail of competition quality for the species, featuring 2 large crystals that are doubly-terminated and 1 cm across, perched diagonally in a cluster with smaller crystals. This specimen perhaps best shows, in a display quality, the odd modified form of these new braunites. In geometry, it is striking. Also, it has more lustre in person, the likes of which you have seen for top quality hematite but not typically for braunite. This piece is, for my taste, the best of the lot anyhow and must be seen to be believed.

MUN08-08 - Tarbuttite with Skorpionite - € 345
Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
miniature, 3.3 x 2.1 x 1.3 cm

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An elegantly formed specimen of large tarbuttite "sheaves" lightly decorated with minute white crystals of the new phosphate species Skorpionite, described formally in 2008 from this, the type locality. This specimen has rich coverage, and relatively larger crystals for the species compared to other pieces we have seen (meaning, they are barely eye-visible). In person, the color of the tarbuttite is a soft pastel green, very unusual and interesting! It is translucent when backlit.

MUN08-09 - Skorpionite pseudomorph after Tarbuttite - € 306 SOLD
Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
miniature, 3.2 x 2.9 x 1.8 cm

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This odd specimen is the only one like it we saw, and SEEMS to be a replacement of tarbuttite by skorpionite (as judged by color, texture, and also weight which is markedly different). These unusual pastel green crystals to 1 cm faithfully preserve the original tarbuttite habit.

MUN08-10 - Tarbuttite - € 306 SOLD
Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
miniature, 4.1 x 2.8 x 1.6 cm

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An elegantly formed specimen of large tarbuttite "sheaves" from this new find. In person, the color of the tarbuttite is a soft pastel green, very unusual and interesting! It is translucent when backlit.

MUN08-11 - Tarbuttite with Skorpionite - € 575
Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
miniature, 5.0 x 3.1 x 2.7 cm

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An elegantly formed specimen of large tarbuttite "sheaves" lightly decorated with minute white crystals of the new phosphate species Skorpionite, described formally in 2008 from this, the type locality. The skorpionite occurs in crevasses in the tarbuttite cluster as microcrystalline material. In person, the color of the tarbuttite is a soft pastel green, very unusual and interesting! It is translucent when backlit.

MUN08-12 - Tarbuttite with Skorpionite - € 306
Skorpion Mine, Rosh Pinah, Luderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
miniature, 3.5 x 3.3 x 2.2 cm

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An elegantly formed specimen of large tarbuttite "sheaves" lightly decorated with minute white crystals of the new phosphate species Skorpionite, described formally in 2008 from this, the type locality. The skorpionite occurs in crevasses in the tarbuttite cluster as microcrystalline material. In person, the color of the tarbuttite is a soft pastel green, very unusual and interesting! It is translucent when backlit.

12 specimens selected - back to the Galleries

Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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