Doubly terminated wiluite floating crystal, a rare calcium, aluminum and magnesium silicate with boron. It presents two prisms of different order, the tetragonal dipyramid truncated by the pinacoid. With a interpenetrated crystal. Good size and deep green colour. Wiluite was accepted as a new species in 1997 belonging to the vesuvianite group. It comes from the type locality for the species.

Doubly terminated wiluite floating crystal, a rare calcium, aluminum and magnesium silicate with boron. It presents two prisms of different order, the tetragonal dipyramid truncated by the pinacoid. really good size and deep green colour. Wiluite was accepted as a new species in 1997 belonging to the vesuvianite group. It comes from the type locality for the species.

Doubly terminated wiluite floating crystal, a rare calcium, aluminum and magnesium silicate with boron. It presents two prisms of different order, the tetragonal dipyramid truncated by the pinacoid. Good size and deep green colour. Wiluite was accepted as a new species in 1997 belonging to the vesuvianite group. It comes from the type locality for the species.

Aesthetic specimen of clinochlore, variety seraphinite, forming nodular masses of radiating crystals. Polished slabs such as this have become popular ornamental items. The varietal name seraphinite refers to Biblical angelic beings having three pairs of wings, and is a trade name referring to the fibrous, silvery crystals that compose it. One side is polished showing the internal structure; the other side is natural with this "curious" label...

On a calcite and quartz matrix sits an aesthetic, doubly terminated fluorapatite crystal with this nice blue color, with curious rounded faces and edges. The very glassy luster, translucent, color and size of this specimen make this a fine mineral specimen. This Russian fluorapatite specimens from this locality are highly appreciated for lustre and gemminess. Good size and very aerial disposed.

Slab of native iron in mafic matrix. Specimen is tilted so reflections of sunlight make iron stand out from matrix. This iron could be refered to kamacite variety (content in Ni). It is accompanied by fayalite-forsterite and labradorite. Probably some cohenite is present in the sample. Analisys will be send to the buyer.

This is one of the fragments of the meteorite of Chelyabinsk. At 9:22 a.m. (local time) on February 15, 2013, a bright fireball was seen by numerous residents in parts of the Kurgan, Tyumen, Ekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk cities. This superbolide meteor descended at over 55,000 Km/h over the Ural Mountains, exploding at an altitude of 25-30 km.
These fragments are ordinary chondrite meteorites and contain 10% iron. The Chelyabinsk meteorite was later determined to come from the LL chondrite group (LL5). The majority of the stones are composed of a light-colored lithology with a typical chondritic texture. Chondrules (~63%) are readily delineated and set within a fragmental matrix. The chondrule glass is devitrified. The main phases are olivine and orthopyroxene. Rare grains of augite and clinobronzite are present. In this sample we can observe perfectly chondrules and fusion crust. Very representative and good sized sample (5.08 grams / 0.18 oz).
More info on the website of the Meteorical Society.

State/Prov/County: Chelyabinskaya oblast'  -  Date: 15 Feb 2013; 3:22 UT -  Coordinates: 54°49'N-61°07'E
Mass: >100 kg - Pieces: many - Class: LL5 - Shock stage: Moderated S4 - Weathering grade: W0

This spinel crystal is complete all around and very richly faceted. It has an intense luster, characteristic of pocket-growth crystals that have never been covered by other rock or calcite infill which has to be removed with acid. This locality historically produced spinels of this caliber, and they came out 20 years and more ago and trickled to Western markets when the Berlin Wall fell. They stand as important spinels, not only as interesting locality classics. Sized spinels like this, from open pockets, are rare.

These mix of crystals are showing hexagonal forms and analysis reports that they are related to Ruthenium crystals, with Osmium and Iridium. It is not easy to specify that if this or that crystal is Ru or Os, usually in this nuggets both elements could be present in different percentages. We will send analysis to the buyer.

Very curious specimen of piemontite, a rare Mn aluminosilicate near to Mn epidote, accompanied by braunite, in a shale matrix. One of its parts is cutted which allows to observe perfectly both braunite and piedmontite species. These specimens from the distant Kamchatka peninsula are not commonly available to collectors.

It is not very common to find specimens of lorenzenite, a rare sodium silicate titanate, of these Russian pegmatites. The piece shows some crystals with defined faces and edges, intense black and brilliance, some doubly ternminated. Very interesting specimen collected in this large agpaitic pegmatite body discovered in 1996 on the northern flank of the Umbozero mine on Alluaiv Mt. Intensely hydrothermally reworked, extremely Na-rich, CO2-rich and relatively Si-rich pegmatite. We will send analysis to the buyer.

Nakauriite is a rare hydrated magnesium and copper carbonate, but old formula was Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6·48H2O. The sulphate content, originally reported, seems to be questionable according to literature; the crystalline structure is unknown. Palenzona and Martinelli (2007) suggest a formula (Mg,Cu)x(CO3)y(OH)z·nH2O (x, y, z unknown). It appears as fibrous and nodular aggregates of bluish color embedded in the matrix of tremolite/talc. This specimen has an unusual size and is very rich. It comes from the abandoned chromite mines in Ufalei chromite deposits.
Palenzona, A. & Martinelli, A. (2007): La nakauriite del Monte Ramazzo, Genova. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31(1), 48-51.

Isoproplatinum nugget showing cube shapes with cavities, some with geometric hoppered forms. Analysis show the iron content, which identifies it as this species. The central part of the Konder massif, formed by dunites, was weathered with the formation of a great depression. This depression is the bed of the famous alluvial placer that contains precious metals, among other minerals.

Both minerals, hematite and talc, are relatively common, but what make up this piece not so common is this association. When I saw these pieces they immediately caught my attention. Huge size, aesthetic and brilliant crystals of hematite, of good size for the locality and for the species, rich in facets; they are included in a talc matrix, bright, scaly and green tones. Excellent and very interesting specimensa from the "deep" Russia.

Both minerals, hematite and talc, are relatively common, but what make up this piece not so common is this association. When I saw these pieces they immediately caught my attention. Huge size, aesthetic and brilliant crystals of hematite, of good size for the locality and for the species, rich in facets; they are included in a talc matrix, bright, scaly and green tones. Excellent and very interesting specimensa from the "deep" Russia.

Native copper specimens are one of my weaknesses. This specimen shows arborescent growths formed by copper crystals with rounded and complex faces. It is presented in a very aerial shape, elegant and with this characteristic and metallic color. An excellent piece of the "Mother Russia". Classic locality.

Radial aggregates of normandite, of intense orange color and with transparency. They are disposed in a matrix with aegirine and analcime. Under LW-UV light the white matrix shows some fluorescence with intense orange spots. From the alkaline pegmatites of the Kola peninsula.

Very rich specimen of orange-brown radiated agregates of tokkoite. Accompanied by lilac fibrous charoite and minor black aegirine. From the type locality - Magistral'nyi area of Sirenevyi Kamen' charoite deposit. This deposit of alkaline pegmatites is located in the confluence of Tokko and Chara rivers, which give the name to both species of this sample. Very rare...

Delhayelite is a rare phyllosilicate from the Khibiny massif, in the heart of the Kola peninsula. This area is well known for the large number of alkaline pegmatites that have contributed to the mineralogy a large number of new species. This specimen shows the classical form of the fibrous to laminar shape, with brilliance and a very intense orange fluorescence under the long-wave UV light, characteristic of the specimens of Khibiny. A mineral rarity.

Rich and good size group of pyrrhotite crystals with the hexagonal shape, very aesthetic, showing parallel growth, pearlescent and intense brown color. They are disposed on a druse of quartz crystals with sphalerite and a curious growth of calcite. An excellent classic piece.

This is one of the gemmy axinite-(Fe), that came out in the late 1980s from this remote mining region, in the North Urals.Brilliance and transparence is excellent, with internal reflections and lights. Perfectly defined triclinic faces and marked edges. Good size and quality.