This is a very cool topaz crystal – it is doubly terminated and is a superb example of hemimorphism (the crystal symmetry is such that the forms at one end are different from the crystal forms at the other end). The one termination of this crystal is unusually steep, particularly for a topaz from the […]

A cute specimen with lustrous orange-butterscotch wulfenite crystals on gossan from Los Lamentos. These crystals are sharp and bright! In very good condition overall, an incomplete crystal. From the Steve Szilard collection, these are very nice wulfenite crystals. About Steve Szilard (click here)

A cluster of sharp, lustrous silver arsenopyrite crystals from Santa Eulalia.  These are bright, bladed crystals. In excellent condition overall, minor chipping and peripheral incomplete crystals there this piece was attached to surrounding rock. From the Steve Szilard collection (#724) – a very nice Santa Eulalia arsenopyrite!  

A bed of dark orange orpiment crystals from one of the top localities in the world for orpiment crystals –  the Jiepayu Mine, Shimen, China. These crystals are sharp, lustrous and well-developed. In excellent  condition (a couple of incomplete peripheral crystals and minor rubs visible with magnification). A very cool, instructional piece, as one can […]

A very sharp crystal of columbite-(Fe) from Spargoville. This crystal (singly-terminated) is super – it has a great termination and smooth, well-developed prism faces. It formed in granite, and so it was never fully developed around the back – it does have a number of roughly crystallized surfaces around back, but it is a specimen […]

Brilliant, mirror-bright silver skutterudite crystals cascade across the top of this piece. In excellent condition and sits perfectly for display as photographed. A beautiful skutterudite from the Pete Richards collection (#5962). About Pete Richards (click here)

A great sharp black spinel with calcite and diopside from Aldan. The spinel crystal (3.0 cm largest dimension) has bright lustre and shows the trapezohedral crystal faces at the corner of the octahedron. In excellent condition – the crystal is complete to the extent it developed (ie it is truncated at the back, where it […]

Mirror-bright tetragonal sphalerite crystals with many interlocking pseudo-hexagonal pyrrhotite crystals. In good condition overall, some chipping and incomplete crystals. The spahlerite shows the classic Dal’negorsk triangular steps at the terminations. A nice combination specimen from Dal’negorsk from the Pete Richards collection (#4029). About Pete Richards (click here)

Beautiful sharp, glassy hexagonal crystals of sturmanite from the N’Chwaning II Mine. These crystals are superb – as sharp and lustrous as sturmanite gets. In excellent condition overall – a few chips. Stands perfectly for display as photographed. From the Pete Richards collection (#4934), this is a very nice specimen of this uncommon mineral! About […]

A superb, sharp, transparent aquamarine crystal. The crystal has a wonderful termination and great light aqua colour.  The termination has a small, glassy, transparent pinacoid face, surrounded by additional faces, bounded by an almost star-like pattern – subtle, but easy to see when you examine the crystal and I’ve taken several photos to help to […]

A gorgeous topaz crystal, sharp, lustrous, transparent and with textbook crystal form. The crystal has nice colour and looks just super under the lights. In excellent condition, no damage. From the Pete Richards collection (#2993), this is a super gem crystal! About Pete Richards (click here)  

This parallel-growth crystal of kunzite is sharp, with good form. The colour is a nice light lilac-pink hue – as always with spodumene, the colour is more intense looking from the termination. The broad prism faces are deeply striated. In excellent condition – a small chip on a back edge (ie behind, seen in the […]