Aggregates of tiny electric blue azurite crystals together with contrasting white calcite. There are also beautiful microscopic yellowish-green needles of what I believe are agardite-(Ce) – testing would be necessary to confirm – and bright green malachite.  In excellent condition overall – with magnification, one can find slight rubs. The azurite crystals in the balls […]

This piece features two superb, gemmy scalenohedral calcite crystals. I rarely use the word gemmy, but these calcites are essentially transparent, and the colour and texture showing through are coming from the backsides of the crystals. In excellent condition – with magnification one can see a tiny rub on the back of the taller crystal […]

A cluster of bright green pyromorphite crystals from Spain. The crystals are sharp and lustrous, bundled together in parallel-growth groupings. In very good condition, some incomplete crystals. This piece is from the Tracy Kimmel Collection, acquired from Jordi Fabre (whose label accompanies the specimen. A beautiful splash of bright colour! About Tracy Kimmel (click here) […]

A pair of razor-sharp fluorite cubes on a thin plate of iron-oxide-coated quartz. These fluorite crystals are very subtly coloured – very faintly icy blue, but with some warmer areas inside. They are translucent have a frostly look. The crystals are each slightly stepped. In excellent condition – a tiny imperfection at the lower left […]

A classic botryoidal hematite from the Florence Mine. The colour ranges from dark steel grey to iron red metallic, and the lustre is mostly satin-metallic, with some more lustrous areas at the one end (upper right, as photographed). In excellent condition, no damage (incomplete botryoids around the periphery where this was attached. Underneath/behind, one can […]

This is a superb glassy French gwindel. It is a good size, with brilliant lustre and areas of beautiful internal clarity. The specimen is completely crystallized, as the bottom and backside are covered in fine recrystallization patterns indicating that this piece separated from its original position in the cavity before crystallization was complete. It is […]

This specimen features beautiful little deep blue quartz crystals dotting the top of the matrix. These are sharp, lustrous dipyramidal crystals (i.e. Cumberland habit) and they owe their colour to micro-inclusions of riebeckite needles. In excellent condition. From the John S. White Collection, looks super with magnification (under a loupe).  About John S. White  

Sparkling blue quartz crystals, the colour being due to inclusions of needle-like crystals of magnesio-riebeckite. Individual included crystals of magnesio-riebeckite are visible under magnification (with a loupe). The quartz crystals are sharp and lustrous dipyramids. A cool specimen! About John S. White    

A starburst cluster of radiating quartz crystals from Spain. The crystals are sharp and well defined. Their colour is thought to be due to unknown inclusions. A neat Spanish quartz from the John S. White Collection! About John S. White  

This is a super specimen of negative crystal inclusions in quartz from Elba – easily appreciated without magnification but fantastic with a bit of magnification! (e.g. with a loupe). The crystal itself is in good condition in most areas, with a large chip at the termination. What matters with this specimen are the inclusions, and […]

This is a thin plate of golden fluorite cubes covered almost entirely with sharp, brilliantly-lustrous quartz crystals. Many of the quartz crystals are doubly terminated, and under bright lights, some show glints of rainbow-colours. The fluorite fluoresces yellow under UV light. In excellent condition. These quartz crystals are so bright, and the fluorite adds colour […]

Goethite-included ferruginous quartz from the ancient iron mines at Felsenmeer. The intergrown quartz crystals are sharp, with good lustre and many are doubly-terminated. In excellent condition, minor contacts and incomplete crystals. This specimen is from the John S. White Collection. In the recent article by Carl Francis and David Ziga, “Conoisseur’s Choice: Ferruginous Quartz” (Rocks […]