Purveyors of Fine Specimens, Gem Crystals, And Rare Gemstones

Superb miniature from the very small March 2000 find of orange prehnite. Accompanied by white xonotlite, tabular hydroxyapophyllite and small clear datolite crystals. From my personal collection. 4.9 x 3.4 x 2.9 cm.

Excellent combination specimen of well-crystallized graphite, diopside, and fluorapatite from Block D, Merelani. The light green diopside, which measures to 1.1 cm, is well-crystallized and gemmy. The two small apatite crystals, which measure to just over 2 mm, beautifully show the dichroism common from this mine; as shown in picture 5, the apatite is blue when viewed down the c-axis and colorless when viewed perpendicular to it. The apatite is fluorescent. 6.2 x 4.3 x 2.3 cm.

Large, nicely colored sharp crystal on and albite and muscovite matrix from this classic California locality. The morganite measures 5.0 x 3.6 cm and has some transparent, gemmy areas. This is an older specimen from the late 1970's or early 1980's. Ex. Roland Reed and Chuck Houser. 7.6 x 7.4 x 3.7 cm.

Older, stout cluster of fine blue aquamarine. The aqua crystals have an interesting shape, with flat, lustrous prism faces on the front, and parallel growth faces on the reverse. Ex. Larry Conklin. Very minor edge wear. 7.0 x 5.7 x 3.3 cm.

A superb, 1.7 cm ruby crystal on matrix from this historic gem mining area. The crystal is highly translucent with a deep red, "pigeon's-blood" color. The ruby also shows sharp crystal faces and a fine hexagonal form. The ruby fluoresces a bright red under LW UV. 3.4 x 2.2 x 1.3 cm.

Very unusual specimen of bright violet-blue parallel crystals of tanzanite. The crystals are quite thin but richly colored and lustrous. I believe that this specimen has been heated due to the uniform color. 3.7 x 1.6 x 1.5 cm.

Superb, light blue gem crystal of aquamarine with red needle inclusions of tantalite-Mn. The crystal has a sharp, modified frosted termination. 5.2 x 2.5 x 2.2 cm.

Unusual, triangular bicolor crystal of tanzanite. The yellow, upper portion has parallel internal dissolution tubes which give it a silky appearance. The gem-quality, purple lower portion is richly colored and clear; it shows fine dichroism with a bright blue color when viewed from the side. The crystal faces are lustrous; the parallel markings in the photo are internal. 2.2 x 1.7 x 0.7 cm.

Sharp specimen of two intergrown deep-green crystals of peridot. The crystals are transparent and gemmy, with very little yellow overtone. Quite fine and much better in person. 3.2 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm.