|
Mineral Specimens with Albite
(click on a page number to go to that page:)
page 27 / 38 - prev - 556 specimens selected - next
4.0 x 3.6 x 2.4 cm. Purple Apatite is by far the most desirable of all colors of Apatite, and is for all intents and purpose, the most difficult to obtain. This piece features a few, sharp, translucent, lustrous, rich purple, tabular crystals of Apatite associated with Quartz, Albite, Muscovite and even a small patch of light green Fluorite ! The largest Apatite crystal measures 1.1 cm across. A lovely miniature specimen of this rare shade of Apatite. This specimen was mined in 1995, when some of the most vivid purple Apatites came out of Pakistan.
5.1 x 2.8 x 2.4 cm. An aesthetic combination watermelon tourmaline from recent finds at the famous Pederneira Mine. Three-quarters of the gemmy and lustrous green crystal has a cranberry-red core. A pretty teal-blue zone follows and the lustrous termination is a nice emerald-green. The two "snowflakes" of glassy cleavelandite blades and the rich peppering of lavender lepidolite are fine accents. Very highly representative material from this noted locale.
A gemmy and lustrous multi-colored Himalaya tourmaline with a nicely attached bit of milky-white cleavelandite. The lower half of the crystal is watermelon-colored on the outside and has a green core. The upper half is a rich cranberry-color. Part of one side and part of the pyramidal termination is etched away, making for an interesting specimen. The backlit photos highlight the color variations. 3.4 x 3.4 x 2.4 cm
5.0 x 4.0 x 2.9 cm. Vivianite is a rare species from Brazil, and large vivianite crystals of this quality have been found, to my knowledge, only recently at this mine (in the last 2-3 years). This is a superb miniature from the finds, with sharp, translucent crystals and, unusually, some cleavelandite matrix. This proves that this is a pegmatitic vivianite, which is extremely uncommon worldwide. Normally this species forms in phosphate pods, or in phosphate quarries often related to fossilized material there, but seldom in gem pegmatite environments. Complete-all-around, this is a very elegant specimen from the find.
MD-266375 - Spessartine, Schorl, Muscovite, Albite, Beryl (Var: Aquamarine) - - Archived
Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
large cabinet, 15.9 x 10.9 x 9.4 cm.
|
 share specimen
|
15.9 x 10.9 x 9.4 cm. An impressive, architectural, 3-dimensional, large cabinet combination specimen from recent finds at Shengus, Paksitan. Large, up to 3.5 cm, gemmy and lustrous, cherry-red spessartine garnets are nestled amongst or flank a striking parallel-growth cluster of pearlescent, silvery muscovite blades. One side hosts a dramatic T-shaped, combination cluster. A 7.0 cm wide cluster of gemmy spesartines caps a 5.8 cm tall, lustrous and striated schorl crystal. There are even a couple of gemmy aquamarine crystals to 1.7 cm and quartz crystals hidden amongst the muscovites. The whole piece rests on snow-white albite.
7.3 x 4.7 x 2.8 cm. This is a fine specimen from this very isolated yet exciting discovery. It features a few alluring euhedral crystals of bright orange Eosphorite measuring up to 8 mm long which are associated with a complete, gem/gemmy, sharp, lustrous, slightly smoky colored Topaz crystal (plus a smaller one at the base) along with a few pale pinkish-purple crystal aggregates of Lepidolite on white Albite (var: "Cleavelandite") matrix. The specimen is simply one of the most attractive association specimens I have seen of this material, and it seems to be impossible to find on the market now. A superb and aesthetic small cabinet size specimen featuring the brightest color Eosphorite that I have seen from any pegmatite locality. Ex. Brian Kosnar Collection.
13.0 x 5.6 x 5.4 cm. This impressive specimen features a sharp, doubly-terminated gem crystal from the so-called “Rocket Pocket", 10.8 x 1.4 x 1.2 cm in size, perched delicately on the side of a knoll of crystallized cleavelandite with sparkling purple lepidolite in the interstices. Collected around 2002, this was considered at the time, in the context of having most of the pocket contents laid out on a few giant tables to be sorted, to be one of the best of this style in its size range. It was kept back by one of the partners in the Pederneira Mining venture, and then sold to collector Irv Brown. He selected it because it has very unique aesthetics and, unlike most of these larger crystals which have 2-4 repairs, it has only one very clean, lock-fit repair to the tourmaline crystal. I obtained it in exchange from him in about 2006. The Pederneira is shut down for the moment, and in any case the pegmatite which hosted this particular pocket is completely gone and stripped of crystals at this point. I admire the contrast between the large crystal with pyramidal termination and the two smaller crystals flanking it, each with a flat-topped termination. The balance of the piece, the accents by the sidecar crystals, the combination of terminations, all make for a superb specimen in its size class.
11.2 x 10.2 x 9.2 cm. A totally gemmy, transparent topaz is the highlight of this excellent combination piece, which has a striking balance of topaz and quartz, both nestled in crystallized cleavelandite. The topaz is 5 cm wide, 4 cm deep and about 4 cm tall. It is pristine. In person, the topaz leaps out at you as a 3-dimensional jewel, transparent and brilliant like glass. You can see right through it to the quartz behind, the cleavelandite underneath, and the faceted terminations set against them. Most people consider this region to be the premier locality for champagne-colored topaz crystals of this style. I obtained this in 2008 directly from a source in Peshawar, when it was much larger and needed to be heavily trimmed and cleaned.
10 x 8.5 x 8 cm. Purple-capped tourmalines are quite rare, and this piece has a distinct purple zone, above a blue zone, on its termination. More than that, it is just a very fine and aesthetic tourmaline specimen by any standard, with the color as a bonus feature. It is, first off, not repaired. Most large matrix tourmalines from this region are repaired at least once, especially when connected to a quartz crystal as this is. And, the quartz and cleavelandite are arranged in great balance, not overwhelming but accenting the tourmaline itself. The tourmaline is very equant and robust, about 7 x 7 x 7 cm overall in size. It has an extremely unusual and glassy termination...intricately scalloped, for lack of a better word. It has many subtle growth features that result in incredible reflections and sparkle coming off that termination. I cannot say that I have ever seen this style of termination on such a large crystal - just on small ones, before. Lastly, the piece is shockingly pristine. It weighs 782 grams. The purple color, especially in a lustrous termination, is perhaps the rarest of all colors on a tourmaline. In particular, it’s very rare from this part of the world where they tend towards pastel hues of pink and greens.
27.5 x 18.5 x 17 cm. This remarkable piece dates to the 1960s heyday of Brazilian pegmatites, when spectacular pieces were found more frequently near the surface than they seem today. The piece is from a famous old deposit, which today produces beryls but nothing so impressive as what you see here. The matrix of cleavelandite is actually typical of this region, and quite nice in its own right. The morganite, though, has outstanding color, really a hot pink and a form more associated with modern material from Afghanistan than anything from Brazil. Most people would immediately peg this as an Afghani piece, I would bet (and in fact this has happened). However, the giveaways are the slightly different cleavelandite (more sharp and sparkly than Paprok material) and the coloration and style of the small tourmaline included in the morganite. The morganite itself is complete in about 95% of its display area, with only a small bit in one corner restored with matching epoxy. The morganite is very sharp, totally undamaged otherwise, and measures 4.5 inches (11.2 cm) across. Believe it or not, this piece came up from Brazil in the 1970s, in a suitcase, as a specimen that was triple this current size and mass at the time. A natural history collector purchased it from the Amsterdam Sauer Museum in Rio de Janiero in around 1976. This museum was both a display for the owner's well known personal collection and a storefront for selling specimens outright. Apparently, this collector simply put it on a coffee table where it sat, unappreciated by anybody in the core mineral community, for the next 30 years. After a tipoff, I bought the piece and had it trimmed down to its current, more aesthetic and balanced size. Still, at the weight of perhaps 20 pounds and the size of a decent watermelon, "trimmed down" has a whole different meaning here.
6.5 x 5.6 x 5.0 cm. A water-clear, 1.7 x 1.7 cm, gem aquamarine crystal with good color is aesthetically set amidst upright books of pearlescent muscovite on this fine combination specimen from recent finds at Nagar, Pakistan. The aquamarine has interesting beveled edges and is pristine. Classic, highly representative material from this noted locale. Ex. Duncan Elliott Collection.
5.2 x 4.8 x 3.4 cm. A 5.2 x 2.6 cm, extremely gemmy and lustrous, light cognac-colored topaz crystal is aesthetically set in front of rosettes of bladed cleavelandite and is beautifully accented by small topaz crystals. Very 3-dimensional overall. The very complex termination area of this beauty is water-clear. A classic and beautiful example of the species and locale from the Marty Lewadny Collection.
Very gemmy and lustrous orange garnet crystals to 5 mm attractively set on albite matrix from the recent Chinese finds. 4.5 x 4.1 x 2.1 cm
5.5 x 4.3 x 2.7 cm. Several light colored Smoky Quartz crystals on a matrix of intergrown of pink/white Orthoclase and Albite crystals from the famous locality at Baveno. This area lends its name to "Baveno" twinned Feldspar crystals, and is one of the most well known Feldspar localities in the world. The largest Orthoclase crystal measures 1.5 cm across.
9.1 x 7.8 x 5.8 cm. Several lovely muted-red colored, gemmy, lustrous modified/etched trapezohedral Spessartine crystals sit atop porous, etched, lustrous white blocky crystals of Albite with minor Muscovite. The piece is very three dimensional showing beautiful overall form and aesthetic quality. I don't remember seeing Spessartine like this from Pakistan before, and it is certainly different for Shengus.
(click on a page number to go to that page:)
page 27 / 38 - prev - 556 specimens selected - next
Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
All Content and Design ©1996-2012 The Arkenstone
Mineral Specimens by species; or
by specimen id.
|
![Apatite-(CaF), Quartz, Albite, Muscovite from Baha, Braldu Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-263720a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-263720a.jpg)
![Elbaite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite), Lepidolite from Pederneira claim, São José da Safira, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil [db_pics/mdpics/MD-264017a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-264017a.jpg)
![Tourmaline, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Himalaya Mine (Himalaya pegmatite; Himalaya dikes), Gem Hill, Mesa Grande District, San Diego Co., California, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-26481a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-26481a.jpg)
![Vivianite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Cigana claim (Jocão claim), Galiléia, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil [db_pics/mdpics/MD-265749a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-265749a.jpg)
![Spessartine, Schorl, Muscovite, Albite, Beryl (Var: Aquamarine) from Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-266375a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-266375a.jpg)
![Eosphorite, Topaz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Chamachhu, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-270340a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-270340a.jpg)
![Eosphorite, Topaz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Chamachhu, Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-270340b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-270340b.jpg)
![Elbaite, Lepidolite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Pederneira claim, São José da Safira, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271348a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271348a.jpg)
![Topaz, Quartz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Dassu (Dasso; Dusso), Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271350a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271350a.jpg)
![Elbaite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite), Quartz from Paprok, Nuristan Province (Nurestan; Nooristan), Afghanistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271380a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271380a.jpg)
![Elbaite, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite), Quartz from Paprok, Nuristan Province (Nurestan; Nooristan), Afghanistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271380b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271380b.jpg)
![Beryl (Var: Morganite), Quartz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Galiléia, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271383a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271383a.jpg)
![Beryl (Var: Aquamarine), Muscovite, Albite from Nagar (Nagir), Hunza Valley, Gilgit District, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271425a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271425a.jpg)
![Topaz, Albite (Var: Cleavelandite) from Dassu (Dasso; Dusso), Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271426a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271426a.jpg)
![Spessartine, Albite from Wushan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Yunxiao Co., Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China [db_pics/mdpics/MD-27147a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-27147a.jpg)
![Quartz (Var: Smoky Quartz), Orthoclase, Albite from Baveno, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271566a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271566a.jpg)
![Quartz (Var: Smoky Quartz), Orthoclase, Albite from Baveno, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271566b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271566b.jpg)
![Spessartine, Albite from Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577a.jpg)
![Spessartine, Albite from Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577b.jpg)
![Spessartine, Albite from Shengus (Shingus), Haramosh Mts., Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577c.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-271577c.jpg)