Nifontovite

For the first time in some 70 years, gem crystals of nifontovite were found in Charcas recently! The last reported find of crystallized nifontovite larger than microcrystalline size was by Dr. Fred Pough, in the 1940s, who obtained while at the site a single superb larger crystal (now in the Smithsonian collection) and a few little shards for analysis. These gorgeous gem crystals are the pick of the new lot: WATER-CLEAR and clean, with glassy lustre - they are much brighter in person due to the difficulty of shooting something so clean, gemmy and reflective. So far as I know, this update represents over 90% of the specimens found that were sharp and well terminated. IN PERSON, THESE ARE SO GEMMY, AND SO TRANSPARENT, AND SO COLORLESS THAT THE CAMERA HAS TROUBLE FOCUSING - THEY ARE MUCH BETTER IN PERSON!


By way of emphasis, here is what the material normally looks like:

MINDAT photos: http://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=2902

US$    € EURO    ¥ YEN    £ POUND    CAN$    AUS$

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NIFO-01 - Nifontovite - $2500 ON HOLD
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
miniature, 3.9 x 1.9 x .4 cm

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A rather large, totally gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. It is pristine and complete all around save for two small contacts (not damage) on the back face. The largest straight, terminated gem crystal in the lot not kept by the person who recognized these for what they were, this is therefor the largest specimen available for sale. A MAJOR RARITY OF WHICH PREVIOUSLY ONLY ONE SPECIMEN LARGER EXISTED!



NIFO-02 - Nifontovite - $400
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.9 x .7 x .4 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. It is pristine and complete all around save for 1 small contact (not damage) where another crystal grew running diagonally, upon the back face.



NIFO-03 - Nifontovite - $750
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.3 x .5 x .4 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. It is pristine and complete all around save for 1 small contact (not damage) at the top, upon the back face.



NIFO-04 - Nifontovite - $675
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.0 x .5 x .4 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. It is pristine and complete all around save for 1 incredibly small 1.25mm contact (not damage) on the back face.



NIFO-05 - Nifontovite - $675 SOLD
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.5 x .6 x .4 cm

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Just perfect. Unusually equant, and a world class thumbnail...A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-06 - Nifontovite - $600
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.7 x .5 x .3 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-07 - Nifontovite - $675
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.5 x .6 x .3 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-08 - Nifontovite - $925
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.0 x .6 x .4 cm

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Unusually steep and bevelled termination on a stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-09 - Nifontovite - $1500
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.0 x .5 x .4 cm

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Unusually steep and bevelled termination on a stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-10 - Nifontovite - $775
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.8 x .7 x .4 cm

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A dramatic, even more unusually steep and bevelled termination on a stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. MUCH cleaner in person than it looks



NIFO-11 - Nifontovite - $600
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.6 x .5 x .3 cm

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A stunning, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces.



NIFO-12 - Nifontovite - $250
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.9 x .5 x .3 cm

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Unusually steep and bevelled termination on a stunning, gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. However, it is cleaved on the back side, from top to bottom I think.



NIFO-13 - Nifontovite - $450
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, .7 x .5 x .4 cm

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A stunning, totally gem crystal with a perfect termination; and absolutely glassy, transparent surfaces. Some very slight damage on the lower portion of the back side, though still a giant and killer by any previous standard!



NIFO-14 - Nifontovite - $450
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.1 x .6 x .3 cm

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A tall, perfect gem crystal with a perfect termination; and transparent surfaces minutely speckled with microcrystallization - though not so detracting to lustre in person as it appears in the photo..



NIFO-15 - Nifontovite - $750
Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
thumbnail, 1.4 x .7 x .6 cm

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A really bright and incredibly gemmy, fat crystal - a "cutter" !



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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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