{"title":"Small Cabinet","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"pyromorphite-1","title":"PYROMORPHITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eVivid apple-green crystals of pyromorphite shooting out of a plate of limonitic matrix. This piece comes from one of the world's premier locations for this species, from one of the finer pockets to have been found in recent years. The crystals are lustrous and in fantastic condition. With the eye-catching color and dynamic appearance of the specimen, this stands out as a great small cabinet sample.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/827134d6af9a486e94d5b03f82f1a339.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daoping deposit is a hydrothermal Pb-Zn system hosted in Devonian Wuzhishan Formation limestone, sandstone, and shale intruded by granite and lamprophyre dykes in the karst terrain south of Guilin - a setting in which open cavity development within the carbonate host rock directly enabled the exceptional crystal growth documented here. Pyromorphite formed secondarily in the oxidized lead zone, with green coloration driven by interactions between lead, phosphate, and chloride ions in the hexagonal crystal structure rather than any discrete trace chromophore. Discoveries beginning in 1999, formally documented by Liu and Ottens in the \u003cem\u003eMineralogical Record\u003c\/em\u003e (2005), produced hexagonal prisms and barrel-shaped crystals reaching several centimeters - extraordinary for the species - in colors spanning pale yellow-green through saturated apple-green to dark forest-green, with occasional yellow-orange. The \"Apple Green Pocket\" of 2003–2004 yielded some of the most coveted cabinet-scale material, with translucent prisms to 2 cm on cerussite matrix and incipient hopper growth at terminations. Since the Daoping and Yangshuo mines connected underground in 2003, precise attribution of later material between the two operations is genuinely ambiguous. The finest early-find pieces have been absorbed steadily into permanent collections, and nothing from subsequent production has matched the 2003–2004 benchmark.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Daoping Mine, Guangxi A.R., China","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48277562458400,"sku":"CMPYM001","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_24-06-12_13-14-56-542.jpg?v=1718223754"},{"product_id":"azurite-bayldonite","title":"AZURITE \u0026 BAYLDONITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClassic example of Tsumeb mineralogy! Sharp blue azurite crystals, partially pseudomorphing to malachite, grown together with an abundant group of the rare lead-copper arsenate bayldonite. The contrast of the deep blue with the multiple shades of green gives it what I can only describe as an alluring appearance. When one finds Tsumeb specimens of bayldonite, it's usually with patchy coverage and much duller color. Here we have rich and attractive minty green color, and the coverage is continuous throughout the whole specimen. There are a couple of other species present, though we haven't had it analyzed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/f9b87c02e96f4650809336bc51f7558c.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBayldonite is a lead copper arsenate hydroxide confined almost entirely to Tsumeb's first oxidation zone - the water table fluctuation zone above the 11th Level - where the full complexity of the deposit's supergene chemistry produced the arsenate-rich, lead-copper environments the species requires. Southwood's 2025 \u003cem\u003eRocks \u0026amp; Minerals\u003c\/em\u003e treatment confirms that bayldonite most commonly occurs at Tsumeb as a pseudomorph after mimetite, retaining the hexagonal prismatic outline of the precursor in oil-green to grass-green powdery to microcrystalline coatings; pseudomorphs after azurite, tennantite, and wulfenite are documented but considerably rarer. The combination of bayldonite pseudomorphs after mimetite as matrix, overgrown by sharp tabular azurite crystals, produces some of the most mineralogically layered specimens the deposit ever yielded - two sequential supergene stages preserved on a single piece. The earliest documented material predates 1920, and the first oxide zone was largely consumed by mining before mid-century. With the mine permanently closed since 1996 and the 2000s Ongopolo recovery effort yielding only marginal specimen production before abandonment in 2008, confirmed bayldonite-azurite combination pieces from well-documented early extraction are among the more scientifically significant subsets in the broader Tsumeb secondary mineral suite.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tsumeb Mine, Oshikoto Region, Namibia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48277636546848,"sku":"CMBYL001","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0417.jpg?v=1713637689"},{"product_id":"andradite-var-demantoid-1","title":"ANDRADITE VAR. DEMANTOID","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eDeep green, sharp demantoid garnets perched nicely on matrix with white calcite running through the middle. The way that the largest crystal is exposed makes this a great display piece, and it gorgeously displays the refractivity that demantoid garnets are known for. Exemplary sample for the size class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/f3fee1094e904628a288e3dec150e698.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelqeys Mountain sits 34 km northeast of Takab in the Tabak complex of northwestern Iran, where demantoid crystallized within a metamorphic horizon - mica schists interlayered with quartzites and marble intruded by granite and quartz porphyry, underlain by a 50–100 meter thick zone of metamorphosed ophiolite including serpentinite schist and metabasalt. Chegeni et al. (2021) confirmed this skarn-to-metamorphic hybrid setting distinguishes Belqeys from the purely serpentinite-hosted Russian Ural type, with chromium sourced from the underlying ophiolitic sequence driving the green color through substitution into the iron-dominant andradite structure. Crystals occur as dodecahedra to dodecahedron-trapezohedron combinations, typically deep forest-green to bright emerald, with individuals documented to 5 cm - unusually large for the species globally. Unlike Ural demantoids, Belqeys material rarely contains the diagnostic horsetail inclusions, which are characteristic of serpentinite rather than skarn genesis. The locality premiered at Tucson 2014 following initial documentation by Hairapetian in 2013, and a 2016 find produced some of the largest single crystals on matrix documented from the deposit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Belqeys Mt, Takab County, West Azerbaijan Province","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48277651521824,"sku":"CMDEM001","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_24-06-03_16-16-47-344.jpg?v=1717456827"},{"product_id":"grossular-garnet","title":"GROSSULAR","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eNumerous trapezohedral grossulars to 1.1cm strewn across matrix with minor diopside, clinochlore, and calcite also present. The smaller grossulars show a brilliant red with direct lighting, while the larger ones show deep red hues with backlighting. Good quality garnets from Akhmatovskaya Kop' are few and far between. Great aesthetics and quality, and a great addition to any cabinet of garnets or Russian minerals. From the collection of famed mineral collector Kurt Hefendehl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/353c8d08e0c9475494a47f0443c0f3ca.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpened in 1811 by P.E. Akhmatov, manager of the Kusinskii ironworks, the Akhmatovskaya Kop' is a calcareous skarn formed at the contact between Paleozoic intrusive rocks of the Kusa-Kopan complex and Riphean carbonate wall rocks - Stativko et al.'s 2023 \u003cem\u003eLithosphere\u003c\/em\u003e geochemical study confirmed garnet compositions across the Southern Ural skarn deposits trend along a grossular-andradite-Ti-andradite series, with hessonite representing the calcium-aluminum dominant end of that continuum. Iron and manganese trace substitution in the aluminum site drives the characteristic cinnamon to deep reddish-brown color. Crystals occur as rhombic dodecahedra and trapezohedra, typically 0.5–1.5 cm, on calcite matrix with diopside, vesuvianite, magnetite, and occasional perovskite - one of the more mineralogically complex skarn assemblages in the Ural region. The locality is historically significant as one of the Ural Mountains' most celebrated nineteenth-century specimen sources, with material in major European museum collections predating systematic mineralogical study of the region. Despite that long history, quality specimens remain genuinely uncommon - the deposit produced inconsistently throughout the Soviet era and sees only minimal artisanal activity today, meaning old-stock pieces with sharp crystals and well-preserved matrix associations are the dominant material in current circulation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Akhmatovskaya Kop’, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48277670199584,"sku":"CMGRS001","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0349-3.jpg?v=1773785972"},{"product_id":"cavansite-with-stilbite","title":"CAVANSITE ON STILBITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElectric blue cavansite formed in a long cluster wrapping around a protrusion of stilbite covered host rock. The cavansite shoots outwards in all directions, and at the end of the grouping sits a spherical growth, the kind the species is known for. Looking into small pockets, one can see that the cavansite growth continues deeper out of sight. It's highly uncommon to find this much of it together in one continuous grouping, and though it’s hard to measure I’d warrant it measures to at least 8 cm. Together with a backdrop of light gray microcrystalline stilbite and some larger stilbite crystals, this piece makes for a phenomenal display. As with a lot of cavansite from these finds, the color is difficult to capture on camera, and pops out a lot more when viewing in person. The backside of this specimen has been rounded out and the bottom cut straight, so it stands up on its own with no base. This medium size cabinet piece is truly world class in terms of visuals and would make a  gorgeous addition to any collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/f4fcde5295a94aac86d06974d845c2b8.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWagholi's quarries cut through the Deccan Volcanic Province, one of the largest flood basalt sequences on earth, active roughly 66 Ma - cavansite and its dimorph pentagonite formed specifically within flow-top breccia horizons of the lower Khandala Formation rather than in the more typical vesicular basalt that hosts the district's zeolites. A 2025 formation study by Ottens, Duraiswami, and Krenn based on fifty years of field observation constrained crystallization to roughly 120–200°C at low pressure, contemporaneous with associated low-temperature zeolites from which the hydrothermal fluids circulated through interconnected open spaces - isolated vesicles and open fractures producing distinct paragenetic sequences. Vanadium in the crystal structure is responsible for the deep cerulean to teal-blue color. Cavansite grows as rosette-like spherical aggregates of prismatic crystals typically on stilbite, heulandite, or - most prized by collectors - snow-white mordenite matrix, the contrast between deep blue and white being the defining aesthetic of the locality. Significant specimen production began in 1988 following Arvind Bhale's excavation of a previously unworked andesite horizon; only four of the complex's forty quarries have ever yielded the species. Quarrying restrictions tied to blast damage to adjacent residential areas have progressively curtailed access, and the Ottens et al. paper notes that the original productive zones are now degraded beyond investigation - making fresh material increasingly difficult to source.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wagholi Quarry Dist., Maharashtra, India","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48286539809056,"sku":"CMCAV001","price":4000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/CAVN1-1.jpg?v=1775000410"},{"product_id":"vanadinite-barite","title":"VANADINITE \u0026 BARYTE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo separate clusters of large, blood-red vanadinite crystals on baryte. Much of the baryte is covered by a different, darker mineral which I assume to be goethite, and much of the vanadinite is coated with white calcite. The combination of size and color on the crystals, together with the contrast created by all of the present minerals gives a lot of visual allure. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/2c05e48ff61e4ec385298e11948b48ee.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMibladen is a stratiform Pb-Ba deposit hosted in Lower Jurassic (Liassic) limestones and dolomites of the High Atlas approximately 25 km northeast of Midelt, mined commercially for lead by French operators from the mid-1930s until closure in 1983. Vanadinite formed secondarily as the arid climate of the Atlas facilitated oxidation of galena without the interference of significant rainfall; vanadium sourced from the surrounding sedimentary sequence combined with lead in the oxidation zone to precipitate the hexagonal lead chlorovanadate. Crystals are typically thick tabular to prismatic hexagonal prisms, predominantly deep red to orange-red, with color zoning occasionally visible as a saturated orange core transitioning to deeper red toward the prism terminations; a rare subset displays skeletal growth on prism faces producing a translucent cat's-eye effect when viewed down the c-axis. Most specimens are floaters or occur on tan baryte and limonite matrix. Since the industrial closure, the deposit has been worked periodically by small-scale Moroccan miners sinking shallow shafts from surface - a 2019 discovery sparked a significant mining rush producing new material after years of the market depending entirely on old stock. Praszkier's 2013 \u003cem\u003eMineralogical Record\u003c\/em\u003e account remains the definitive published treatment of the locality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mibladen Mining District, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48392034025760,"sku":"CMVNA016","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0513-2.jpg?v=1774200316"},{"product_id":"cerussite-on-barite-galena","title":"CERUSSITE ON BARYTE \u0026 GALENA","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA particularly sharp growth of cerussite, with terminations on both ends and reticulated growth visible along the sides, perched well atop a matrix of intergrown orange barite and galena. Bright yellow fluorescence under UV light. Many Moroccan cerussite specimens show good crystallization, yet not to the level with which this one formed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/2018bb5fbece4c9ab05830a14e8831a8.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLes Dalles sits within the same Lower Jurassic dolomite and limestone package that hosts the district's famous vanadinite, where galena oxidation in the arid High Atlas climate deposited cerussite in open fractures as descending carbonate-rich groundwaters dissolved and reprecipitated lead. Crystals are colorless to pale yellow or smoky gray with an intense adamantine luster characteristic of the species, typically forming tabular to acicular prisms in complex cyclic twins - the orthorhombic symmetry enabling pseudo-hexagonal reticulated groups in which multiple individuals interpenetrate at 60° and 120° angles. The most diagnostic secondary feature is strong yellow fluorescence under midwave ultraviolet, particularly vivid on Les Dalles material relative to other Moroccan cerussite localities. Pink and yellow barite blades serve as the most common matrix phase, occasionally producing two-toned specimens where translucent cerussite perches on contrasting colored sulfate. Extreme sensitivity to mechanical shock and perfect cleavage make pristine examples a small fraction of recoveries even under careful extraction, and damage-free cabinet-scale twins on matrix have always been scarce relative to collector demand. Supply emerges intermittently from small-scale artisanal workings rather than systematic mining, keeping availability unpredictable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mibladen, Midelt Cercle, Morocco","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48392041890080,"sku":"CMCER002","price":600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/CERU2-1.jpg?v=1775001941"},{"product_id":"rhodochrosite","title":"RHODOCHROSITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eGenerous coating of sharp, cherry red to orange rhodochrosite scalenohedrons atop contrasting manganitic matrix. The crystals are gemmy with superb sparkling luster, giving fantastic reflections in even dim light. On the front side is a ridge in the matrix with great coverage of rhodos that pops out to the forefront. Backside also has plenty of quality crystals, so this piece is attractive from all angles. The Moanda Mine in Gabon is a long-lost locale for rhodochrosite, and a more seldom known one at that. Modern workings go purely after ore, with no quality specimens surviving the process. Not a lot of well-formed specimens were unearthed there at any period of time, with much of the rhodochrosite that formed in the deposit having weathered to manganite, making this piece an unusually excellent example for the mine. This is in excellent condition, and any contacting or chipping isn't worth noting with how hard it is to spot amongst the numerous perfect crystals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/459a1d82b7154b6bb6ee25cea9a551a0.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoanda is one of the world's largest and highest-grade manganese deposits, hosted in bedded Paleoproterozoic Francevillian Formation sediments atop five plateaus in southeastern Gabon, where early diagenetic processes involving organic matter drove manganese concentration as primary rhodochrosite - subsequently overprinted by weathering that converted most of the carbonate to manganite and other oxides. Rhodochrosite survived only in specific vuggy zones where weathering was incomplete, crystallizing as scalenohedral prisms to 9 mm in cavities within the dense black manganite matrix, the stark contrast between cherry-red to reddish-brown gemmy crystals and the surrounding black ore being the defining visual. A ScienceDirect study on lateritic manganese profiles confirmed that manganite at Moanda forms by direct replacement of rhodochrosite, which explains both the rarity of intact crystals and why even modest specimens carry scientific interest as survivors of that replacement process. The known specimen-producing windows date primarily to the 1960s through early 1980s, with no significant material documented since. The mine, operated by Compagnie Minière de l'Ogooué, continues producing industrial ore at high volume; rhodochrosite simply no longer survives in the portions now being worked, making all collector material genuinely old-stock with a fixed and diminishing supply.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moanda Mine, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48392062501152,"sku":"CMRCH001","price":1850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0030-2_f85926ce-fc7f-43dd-abbb-524ab272c6f6.jpg?v=1774032842"},{"product_id":"wulfenite","title":"WULFENITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eDozens of super sharp, light brown, water clear wulfies sitting on top of a dark matrix. These blades are well defined for the iconic Tsumeb Mine, with sharp beveled edges, and their color is characteristic for the locale. Many of them are pristine, only a couple broken crystals and some with minor edge wear. A few of the crystals diffract light into rainbow prisms, so under the right lighting this is a super colorful specimen!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/0b6a0baa6d03450295b1674cf85f1cae.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the secondary lead minerals produced by Tsumeb's supergene oxidation, wulfenite stands out for the sheer breadth of what a single locality can express within one species. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures from Gilg et al. (2003) constrain crystallization to roughly 55°C - the low end of supergene conditions - with molybdate ions precipitating from descending fluids reacting with lead-rich carbonate host. The dominant habit is thick tabular with beveled edges imparted by pyramid face modification, typically in caramel orange to sherry-brown; the most productive horizon was the interval between 28 and 32 Levels in the second oxidation zone, where Bartelke's documented pocket finds of the mid-1970s included wulfenite with dioptase and wulfenite on tennantite. A rare and scientifically contentious subset produces deep blue to blue-gray crystals with steep pyramidal to prismatic habits, informally termed \"chillagite\"; Embrey et al. (1977) disputed the tungsten-bearing interpretation applied by analogy to Australian chillagite, instead attributing the color to partial reduction of Mo⁶⁺ to Mo⁴⁺. Pinch and Wilson documented the full color range as spanning colorless through pink, yellow, orange, greenish-brown, light blue, and very dark blue - a color and habit diversity unmatched by any other single wulfenite locality. With the mine permanently closed since 1996 and all material now old-stock, the blue crystals in particular represent one of the more genuinely rare subsets in the broader Tsumeb secondary mineral suite.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tsumeb Mine, Oshikoto Region, Namibia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48392065941792,"sku":"CMWLF009","price":675.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_2567-2_cec71e75-a02d-4d1e-bef5-5d46cf200617.jpg?v=1774305406"},{"product_id":"smithsonite","title":"SMITHSONITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBotryoidal growth of rich, lemon-yellow smithsonite from a now exhausted locale. The appealing coloration was formerly thought to be caused by the presence of elemental cadmium, though samples have shown that it’s more likely due to inclusions of cadmium sulfides like hawleyite or greenockite. Yellow smithsonite has been found at a few localities worldwide, though I can only think of one or two others that had this rich yellow hue to them. Color aside, my favorite thing about this piece is the smooth rolling luster that goes all across. Front face is all in fantastic shape, there is peripheral damage on the sides, and the specimen is sawed flat on the back.\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-e2bcc89e-7fff-87f1-e8e8-38457ecef9db\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/bf72b4d609634904ab78fb76ba64ec84.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeinan sits within the Lanping-Simao basin of southeastern Yunnan, a region hosting major Pb-Zn carbonate replacement deposits; smithsonite formed secondarily in the oxidized zone above sphalerite ore as descending meteoric waters dissolved zinc and scavenged cadmium from the surrounding carbonate host. A 2023 gemological study of Yunnan smithsonite confirmed that cadmium substituting for zinc in the carbonate structure is the primary driver of intense yellow coloration - with microscopic greenockite inclusions acting as an additional yellow chromophore in some specimens, an interaction analogous to \"turkey fat\" smithsonite from other localities. The original find at Weinan occurred around 2003–2005 but was held as a hoard by the original collector until material began trickling into Western dealer networks around 2014–2015; a distinct late-2019 find produced a different expression - canary-yellow cadmian smithsonite partially replacing scalenohedral white calcite, interpreted as partial pseudomorphs - alongside white early-stage smithsonite cores later coated by a second generation of cadmian material, documenting multiple precipitation pulses. The locality appears to have been essentially inaccessible to systematic follow-up, and no significant production has been documented since 2019.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Weinan, Yunnan, China","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48392073052448,"sku":"CMSMT001","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0853-2.jpg?v=1774064029"},{"product_id":"silver-acanthite-on-calcite","title":"SILVER \u0026 ACANTHITE ON CALCITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eLeaf-like growths of crystalline silver popping out of white calcite, all on top of a plate of acanthite. I've seen a lot of specimens from this locality with silver lightly draped over matrix, this one is exceptionally three-dimensional by comparison. One branch of silver is protruding upwards with a crystal of acanthite at the top, delicately balanced for a rich addition to the assemblage. Fantastic luster throughout as well as UV reactivity in the calcite makes this a fine specimen from a great silver locality.\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-73110a25-7fff-1d89-44db-f8edc941c879\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/c2247e88628d4d279549e4ff295d1bbe.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBouismas is one of the easternmost workings in the Bou Azzer district, a Neoproterozoic five-element vein-type deposit in which Co-Ni arsenides, native silver, and bismuth mineralized in fractures cutting serpentinized Precambrian peridotite - the world's only major cobalt district where the metal is mined as a primary commodity rather than a byproduct. Silver at Bouismas occurs in a distinct sulfide-sulfosalt stage overprinting the earlier arsenide mineralization, with Mindat documenting a silver-rich vein worked from mid-2008 through spring 2010 that also produced partial pseudomorphs of allargentum and minor dyscrasite. Native silver from this window formed as arborescent and dendritic growths on white calcite matrix; a subset shows cubic and spinel-twinned crystals of unusual sharpness for the species. Most specimens arrived encased in calcite requiring careful mechanical preparation to expose the silver within. Proustite occurs as a notable associate on some matrix pieces, adding red sulfosalt contrast against the calcite. The documented production window was narrow and the vein is now exhausted, meaning all available material is fixed to what was recovered during those roughly two years of activity - a tight supply that has kept Bouismas silver consistently underrepresented in Western collections relative to its quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bouismas Mine, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398873919776,"sku":"CMSLV002","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0549_239ed6a0-dc00-4de5-9f06-837572b328ac.jpg?v=1774063510"},{"product_id":"azurite-sun-3","title":"AZURITE SUNS","description":"\u003cp\u003eSymmetrical arrangement of royal blue azurite suns arranged on contrasting kaolinite siltstone matrix. The way that the smaller suns \"orbit\" the main one made this one stand out as soon as we saw it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bIix2LAqmzk?si=MGzQVpqYjZG4aKf1\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore info:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMalbunka Copper Mine azurite suns form within weathered dolomitic host rocks through supergene processes. These distinctive specimens develop when copper-rich solutions interact with carbonate rocks in oxidizing conditions. The characteristic radial habit results from competitive crystal growth, with individual azurite crystals nucleating from central points and radiating outward. The specimens typically form within cavities and fractures, displaying disc-like morphology up to 10cm in diameter. Individual crystals show typical azurite prismatic habits but arrange in a spherical pattern. The dark blue aggregates frequently occur in association with malachite and other secondary copper minerals. These formations represent a specific crystallization environment within the oxidation zone where spatial constraints and solution chemistry promote radial growth patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Malbunka Copper Mine, Northern Territory, Australia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398884897056,"sku":"CMAZU004","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_24-06-03_15-15-14-182.jpg?v=1717453415"},{"product_id":"blue-topaz-1","title":"TOPAZ","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExtravagant blue-green topaz from a well-known Brazilian locality for the species. The termination on this crystal makes it stand out amongst almost all the others to have come out of there, as this etched, “mountainous” tip really gives it a sharp look. In excellent condition all the way around, the bottom having been cut to allow it to stand on its own.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/1f9134f01b804494966d580eb96ffeb8.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePadre Paraíso sits within the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province of the Araçuaí orogen, where post-collisional G5-suite granites crystallized between 520–480 Ma generated the rare-metal pegmatites hosting topaz alongside tourmaline, beryl, and spodumene. A 2021 \u003cem\u003eScientific Reports\u003c\/em\u003e synchrotron and neutron diffraction study formally characterized blue topaz from the locality as carrying an exceptionally high hydroxyl-to-fluorine ratio - the OH-richest topaz composition then documented from the Minas Gerais district - with color attributed to lattice-level structural features tied to that unusual OH content rather than discrete trace chromophores. Crystals occur as prismatic orthorhombic individuals, typically colorless to pale blue with good transparency and strong pleochroism, reaching cabinet size in the best examples. A practical caveat applies: the overwhelming majority of blue topaz marketed from Brazil is irradiation-treated colorless material, and distinguishing genuinely natural-color Padre Paraíso specimens without formal laboratory analysis is not straightforward. For collectors, this ambiguity is part of what makes well-documented natural-color examples significant - pieces with clear provenance and pre-treatment documentation occupy a different category entirely from the treated material that dominates the commercial market.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Padre Paraíso, Minas Gerais, Brazil","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398887813408,"sku":"CMTPZ003","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_24-06-08_09-37-12-887.jpg?v=1717866137"},{"product_id":"pyromorphite-4","title":"PYROMORPHITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis exquisite pyromorphite displays phenomenal color and luster, with larger, doubly-terminated crystals present. Many of the barrel-shaped crystals are hoppered, all shooting out in different directions. Some of the crystals are grown with both ends standing free from the cluster, one hoppered and the other pointed. From the Daoping Mine in Guilin, China, considered by many to be the best locale in the world for pyromorphite, impact pieces with color as rich as this are highly prized. Were it not for a ding on the end of one of the pyro’s, this piece would be going for much more. This comes from a recently discovered pocket of extravagant quality, the likes of which are rarely unearthed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/68180e6e31654b47809423301bb7ca02.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daoping deposit is a hydrothermal Pb-Zn system hosted in Devonian Wuzhishan Formation limestone, sandstone, and shale intruded by granite and lamprophyre dykes in the karst terrain south of Guilin - a setting in which open cavity development within the carbonate host rock directly enabled the exceptional crystal growth documented here. Pyromorphite formed secondarily in the oxidized lead zone, with green coloration driven by interactions between lead, phosphate, and chloride ions in the hexagonal crystal structure rather than any discrete trace chromophore. Discoveries beginning in 1999, formally documented by Liu and Ottens in the \u003cem\u003eMineralogical Record\u003c\/em\u003e (2005), produced hexagonal prisms and barrel-shaped crystals reaching several centimeters - extraordinary for the species - in colors spanning pale yellow-green through saturated apple-green to dark forest-green, with occasional yellow-orange. The \"Apple Green Pocket\" of 2003–2004 yielded some of the most coveted cabinet-scale material, with translucent prisms to 2 cm on cerussite matrix and incipient hopper growth at terminations. Since the Daoping and Yangshuo mines connected underground in 2003, precise attribution of later material between the two operations is genuinely ambiguous. The finest early-find pieces have been absorbed steadily into permanent collections, and nothing from subsequent production has matched the 2003–2004 benchmark.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Daoping Mine, Guangxi A.R., China","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398906523936,"sku":"CMPYM002","price":3750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0002-3.jpg?v=1717449177"},{"product_id":"epidote-2","title":"EPIDOTE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eNumerous growths of fanned epidote shooting out of a plate of matrix. In contrast with most other examples of the mineral species, many specimens from the Ras Koh mountains show a much darker color and much greater luster, along with this characteristic formation. This is a fine piece from the locale, and makes a great display piece with no stand needed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZard Mountain sits within the Ras Koh ophiolitic complex of western Balochistan, where epidote developed in veins cutting the mafic and ultramafic host rocks - iron and aluminum silicate-rich fluids exploiting fracture systems during metamorphic and hydrothermal overprinting of the ophiolite sequence. The locality was most likely discovered around 2010 and first reached Western dealers through Rock Currier of Jewel Tunnel Imports in 2012. What prompted a USGS characterization study published in 2013 was the combination of two anomalies: crystals developing flat tabular pseudohexagonal and pseudo-octahedral forms highly unusual for a monoclinic mineral, and a slight but measurable magnetism. Rietveld X-ray diffraction analysis of the magnetic fraction confirmed the crystals carry roughly 7–8% magnetite as microscopic inclusions throughout the epidote body alongside minor titanite, with biotite, feldspar, and quartz present in the igneous core matrix enclosed within larger crystals. Iron substitution for aluminum in the epidote structure drives the characteristic dark pistachio to blackish-green color. Associates include quartz, which occurs as colorless to white matrix on some specimens. Supply has been intermittent since the initial finds, and the combination of formally characterized anomalous habit and peer-reviewed documentation gives this locality an unusually solid scientific foundation for material still relatively new to the market.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kharan District, Balochistan Region, Pakistan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398908162336,"sku":"CMEPD002","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_9955-2.jpg?v=1773724310"},{"product_id":"vanadinite-on-barite-1","title":"VANADINITE ON BARYTE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreat coverage of bright red vanadinite atop light baryte, some of which has been coated with an epitaxial layer of a darker mineral, likely goethite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/50e018f9dfd044c3bca9d4be29fbd78d.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMibladen is a stratiform Pb-Ba deposit hosted in Lower Jurassic (Liassic) limestones and dolomites of the High Atlas approximately 25 km northeast of Midelt, mined commercially for lead by French operators from the mid-1930s until closure in 1983. Vanadinite formed secondarily as the arid climate of the Atlas facilitated oxidation of galena without the interference of significant rainfall; vanadium sourced from the surrounding sedimentary sequence combined with lead in the oxidation zone to precipitate the hexagonal lead chlorovanadate. Crystals are typically thick tabular to prismatic hexagonal prisms, predominantly deep red to orange-red, with color zoning occasionally visible as a saturated orange core transitioning to deeper red toward the prism terminations; a rare subset displays skeletal growth on prism faces producing a translucent cat's-eye effect when viewed down the c-axis. Most specimens are floaters or occur on tan baryte and limonite matrix. Since the industrial closure, the deposit has been worked periodically by small-scale Moroccan miners sinking shallow shafts from surface - a 2019 discovery sparked a significant mining rush producing new material after years of the market depending entirely on old stock. Praszkier's 2013 \u003cem\u003eMineralogical Record\u003c\/em\u003e account remains the definitive published treatment of the locality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mibladen Mining District, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398922711328,"sku":"CMVNA017","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0520-2.jpg?v=1774213385"},{"product_id":"wulfenite-1","title":"WULFENITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFiery orange wulfies on matrix from the Ahmad Abad Mine in central Iran, a locality that has quickly become a legendary one for the species. Originally beginning production around 200 years ago, it was rediscovered for specimen mining in the last couple decades before the tunnels were collapsed a few years ago, making the mine nearly inaccessible and likely destroying the vast majority of the remaining specimens. The intense orange hues represent the very best color of these finds, as most you'll see from here are beige to pale orange - only a couple of pockets produced specimens like this. What's really interesting is the different habits visible. Some are more thin and platy, characteristic for this locale, some are a little thicker with beveled edges reminiscent of Arizona wulfenites, and in a couple cases you have multiple crystals intergrown to produce one larger piece. Displays beautifully from multiple angles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/24d9595d1797440f8b7d1a81a13a4ddc.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAhmad Abad sits roughly 80 km northeast of Bafq in the Yazd-Anarak Metallogenic Belt, where Pb-Zn mineralization is hosted in Upper Paleozoic through Cretaceous dolomite and limestone - a non-sulfide deposit in which carbonate and silicate replacement of primary ore created the oxidized environment favorable to secondary phosphate, molybdate, and carbonate minerals. Historical documentation places the mine in active lead production during the Qajar dynasty, with ore extracted to supply military use as far back as the early nineteenth century. Wulfenite crystallizes here as tabular to blade-like individuals on white calcite matrix, predominantly deep orange with a distinctive structural feature documented across several pockets - a clear outer zone of near-colorless wulfenite encasing an intensely colored orange core, with minor plattnerite inclusions at the boundary. The associated mineral suite is notably complex for a single oxidation zone: willemite, mimetite, fornacite, hydrozincite, and minium have all been documented alongside wulfenite on individual specimens. Material first entered Western dealer networks after a 2002 Geological Survey of Tehran rediscovery report, with meaningful specimen production beginning around 2018; geopolitical constraints and US sanctions have made consistent export difficult, keeping supply chronically irregular relative to the quality the deposit can produce.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ahmad Abad Mine, Yazd Province, Iran","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398945976608,"sku":"CMWLF014","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0738-2.jpg?v=1774307438"},{"product_id":"celestine-on-calcite","title":"CELESTINE ON CALCITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWhen celestine specimens from this location hit the market a year ago, they instantly became known as some of the finest contemporary examples of the species. Few localities worldwide can boast the same alluring blue that these ones have, derived from a lattice-defect phenomenon. The crystal here is thick and measures 3.2cm in length, sitting beautifully on a sculptural background of beige to yellow-orange calcite. The only flaw I can see is a missing crystal that grew along the main one, and even this doesn't detract from it too much in my eyes. Balanced, attractive, and a fine example of material that is getting harder and harder to find on the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/f3e31bf26e6a497785bd602c29215023.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBadghis Province sits within the Afghan-Tajik Basin, a thick sequence of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks including the evaporite-bearing carbonate horizons that host the Darai Laman deposit; celestine's occurrence in limestone here fits the standard diagenetic model in which strontium preferentially partitions into strontium sulfate rather than calcium sulfate during evaporitic concentration. Blue coloration in celestine is an intrinsic lattice-defect phenomenon rather than a trace impurity, and Darai Laman material tends toward a notably saturated cobalt to deep sky-blue that compares favorably with the best Sicilian or Madagascan material. Crystals form short prismatic to tabular individuals, typically on straw-yellow scalenohedral calcite matrix - the color contrast between the two phases being the defining aesthetic of the locality. Material first entered Western dealer networks in meaningful quantities around 2010 and has continued appearing intermittently since, with a documented find in 2022 confirming the deposit remains accessible. Given Afghanistan's ongoing political constraints, supply is entirely dependent on export chains that can close unpredictably, and the locality remains considerably less known internationally than the quality of its material warrants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Darai Laman, Badghis, Afghanistan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398948827424,"sku":"CMCEL001","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/CELE1-1.jpg?v=1775000797"},{"product_id":"scheelite-with-muscovite","title":"SCHEELITE WITH MUSCOVITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLarge and hefty compound crystal of scheelite measuring to almost 8 cm and weighing over a pound, with complementing muscovite on the sides. The complex ‘stacked’ growth with its multiple terminations is very reminiscent of a series of mountain peaks. At and around the terminations the scheelite is super gemmy and glassy with its luster, and with backlighting the whole thing absolutely glows with vibrant orange and gold hues. This specimen has the characteristic ghostly white fluorescence under UV light that these pieces are known for. Note that the first photos were taken with backlighting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/5386ba8314674abeab3b883db8b941ca.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerched above 4,200 meters in the Minshan range within a panda habitat reserve, the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit is a vein-type hydrothermal system hosted in interlayered schist and marble of the Lower Triassic Bocigou Formation, with Sm-Nd isotope dating placing mineralization at roughly 182 Ma during the Early Yanshanian. Scheelite crystallized within open quartz veins alongside aquamarine beryl, cassiterite, and muscovite from volatile-rich, CO₂-bearing hydrothermal fluids at low sodium activity; REE geochemistry published in \u003cem\u003eScience Bulletin\u003c\/em\u003e confirms high total rare earth concentrations with LREE enrichment and negative europium anomalies - a fingerprint consistent with an A-type granite source. Orange coloration deepens with increasing rare earth element substitution into the tungstate structure. Crystals are pseudo-octahedral dipyramids, often gemmy throughout, ranging from pale beige to saturated deep orange, and display intense blue-white fluorescence under shortwave UV - a property directly tied to molybdenum content, with purer scheelite fluorescing more brilliantly. Conservation pressure within the Huya Xuebaoding National Park has resulted in the mining area being closed to further extraction, making all available material old-stock; fine pseudo-octahedral crystals on muscovite matrix have become substantially harder to source since access was curtailed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mt Little Xuebaoding, Sichuan, China","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48398963245344,"sku":"CMSHL001","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0841_2e6fe821-aa41-44c5-b887-62b563b898b2.jpg?v=1774050725"},{"product_id":"elbaite-in-quartz","title":"ELBAITE IN QUARTZ","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eComplete, well-terminated crystals of blue-green cap elbaite tourmaline hosted within a well-sized reverse scepter quartz crystal. White albite is also present in parts of the specimen. The main quartz crystal has strong translucency in areas that allow one to see the embedding of the tourmaline straight through it. It's rehealed in many places, with complex growth all around, and the reverse scepter termination is pristine. Alluring and unique combination piece!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/601e03a18dba4ef79b3bd73adedc6c5d.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStak Nala sits in the northeastern Nanga Parbat–Haramosh Massif at elevations above 3,000 meters, where Himalayan leucogranitic magmas emplaced prior to 5 Ma crystallized as flat-lying miarolitic pegmatite sills cutting granulitic gneiss at roughly 1.5–2 kbar. Laurs et al. (1998) demonstrated that the pegmatites show symmetrical internal zonation from a schorl-bearing wall zone inward to a K-feldspar and quartz core punctuated by miarolitic pockets - the cavities where elbaite, quartz, cleavelandite, and lepidolite crystallized in late-stage fluid-dominated conditions. Color zoning in elbaite progresses from iron- and manganese-bearing green in the interior through colorless manganese-bearing zones outward to a trace trivalent manganese pink cap at the termination - a chemical sequence faithfully recorded as visible color bands. Doubly terminated crystals exhibiting hemimorphism, where the two ends display different crystal forms, are a Stak Nala signature rarely matched elsewhere. Quartz on matrix tends toward short, glassy prisms nestled in platy cleavelandite alongside the tourmaline. The locality was first worked in the mid-1980s, with the finest material recovered in the earliest years of extraction; a subsequent pocket in late 2005 produced a secondary pulse of quality specimens. Fine tricolored doubly-terminated crystals on undamaged matrix have become progressively harder to source as early-find material continues to be absorbed into permanent collections.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stak Nala, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49026732687648,"sku":"CMQTZ010","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_26-01-18_17-59-46-783.jpg?v=1768784469"},{"product_id":"fluorite-with-quartz","title":"FLUORITE WITH QUARTZ","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSmall cluster of intergrown fluorite cubes showing strong zoning when backlit (as with the first photo). Along with more commonly seen purple crystals is one with a vivid, icy blue coloration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/f9a8e13d332448f2b8ba5f183f06006e.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Yindu deposit is a silver-lead-zinc system in Hexigten Banner, sharing the same broadly Yanshanian-age skarn and hydrothermal setting common to several Inner Mongolian polymetallic deposits in the region - fluorite precipitated as a gangue phase during the waning hydrothermal stages in open vugs and fractures. Color ranges broadly from sea-blue and blue-green through saturated purple to rare magenta and red, with irradiation-induced lattice defects the most likely mechanism; the exceptionally complex phantom zoning - where abrupt shifts in color record distinct pulses of changing fluid chemistry - is the deposit's defining mineralogical feature and what distinguishes it from the more uniformly zoned Yaogangxian material. Crystals are predominantly cubic, sometimes modified by octahedral faces, and carry a notably higher color saturation than many competing Chinese localities at the cost of somewhat lower average transparency. Associates include quartz, muscovite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and calcite. The locality entered collector awareness around 2017 and has since produced a wide enough variety of color combinations and forms that no two pockets appear identical; supply has been consistent enough to keep prices accessible, though the finest phantom-zoned pieces on matrix have absorbed into collections steadily and are becoming harder to source at their original price points.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yindu Ag-Sb-Zn Deposit, Inner Mongolia A.R., China","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49026743599392,"sku":"CMFLR012","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_1034-3.jpg?v=1773784850"},{"product_id":"fluorite-2","title":"FLUORITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCute, small cab pink fluorite with classic Chamonix style! Several etched  intergrown octahedrons are well placed on a granitic matrix, forming a 2.8 cm chain. Some sharp terminations can still be seen in the grouping, despite the etching. This specimen is in great condition, with only minor chipping that can't be seen from the display side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlpine fissure minerals from the Mont Blanc massif formed 5–25 million years ago as collision between the African and European plates generated open cavities in the Hercynian granite, into which high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal fluids deposited crystals as conditions cooled. Chamonix fluorite is the product of late-stage fluorine-rich fluids entering those same fissures, with the pink to deep rose-red coloration attributed to irradiation-induced color centers and possibly trace rare-earth substitution - the mechanism is not fully resolved. Crystals occur as sharp octahedra, sometimes stepped or modified, typically on adularia matrix; the finest examples are gemmy throughout rather than merely surface-translucent. Among the most geographically distinctive fluorite localities known, Chamonix shares its particular pink octahedral habit only with the Polar Urals. Recovery is carried out by \u003cem\u003ecristalliers\u003c\/em\u003e - often multi-generational families of mountaineering crystal hunters working above 3,000 meters under genuine physical risk - and glacier retreat tied to climate change has been gradually exposing previously inaccessible pockets, introducing an element of unpredictability to supply. The effort required to retrieve specimens, combined with the inherent scarcity of pocket finds, keeps truly fine material consistently in short supply relative to collector demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Mont Blanc Massif, Auvergne-Rhônes Alps, France","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49026757656864,"sku":"CMFLR009","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0912.jpg?v=1773776969"},{"product_id":"cerussite-with-wulfenite","title":"CERUSSITE WITH WULFENITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eContemporary finds in Isfahan have produced some fantastic reticulated cerussite specimens, though typically smaller loose samples without matrix. This here is a rich, small cabinet cluster on matrix that shows off the classic reticulated 'snowflake' growth habit from multiple different angles. To top this all off, there are numerous bright orange and well crystallized wulfenites on all sides!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/28fda34c914c40be90894c96eed77256.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the oldest continuously worked lead deposits on earth, Nakhlak has documented mining activity stretching back to the Sassanid Empire and possibly as far as the Parthian period; tools and smelting equipment remain preserved in historical adits to 80 meters depth. Geologically, the deposit is an MVT-type system in which low-temperature basinal brines (~152°C) migrated through east-west fault structures in Upper Cretaceous dolomitized carbonates of the Yazd-Anarak Metallogenic Belt, depositing galena and barite as primary ore. Cerussite formed abundantly in the supergene oxidation zone above, crystallizing as reticulated \"snowflake\" twins - flat, interlocking V-shaped individuals building into open lattice groups of striking geometric complexity - while wulfenite precipitated from molybdenum-bearing descending fluids as tabular orange to red-orange crystals perched on massive cerussite groundmass. The combination pieces, with wulfenite crystals set against dark cerussite matrix, are the signature Nakhlak specimens and have no close parallel at any other locality. Western access to the mine has been intermittent due to geopolitical constraints, which has kept fine material chronically undersupplied relative to the quality it represents.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nakhlak Mine, Isfahan Province, Iran","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49026765914400,"sku":"CMCER003","price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_0946_88c7b86c-7138-497a-988b-c90d2719de86.jpg?v=1773703055"},{"product_id":"mimetite","title":"MIMETITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMimetite from San Pedro Corralitos will always hold a place as some of the most recognizable and ultra desirable locality pieces around. This one is artistically formed and, as shown in the photos, displayable from multiple positions and angles, each with its own point of emphasis. On the front are larger botryoids of a deeper orange color, partially covered by smaller ones and accented with crystals of glistening calcite. What is shown here as the backside has a denser coverage of flashy yellow mimetite, showing more of that classic, splendid rolling luster. Save for some barely noticeable contacting along one edge, the specimen is in marvelous condition (also worth noting that some stabilization was done on the side). Gorgeously showy and exceptionally unique specimen from the legendary one-time 1969 find.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/720767099f1e4efd8d77213a8fcaaa20.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe San Pedro Corralitos district sits among low desert hills in northern Chihuahua, where Cretaceous limestone and shale were intruded by a granodiorite laccolith forming San Pedro Peak, with later diorite and hornblende andesite porphyries facilitating the fissuring that controlled ore emplacement. The Leon Group contact replacement bodies hosted galena-dominant primary mineralization, and mimetite formed in the oxidized zone above as descending groundwaters dissolved galena and scavenged arsenate from the country rock, precipitating the lead arsenate chloride on goethite gossan matrix. A single pocket encountered in 1968 produced essentially all the collector-grade material known from the site - botryoidal spheroids of saturated yellow-orange, the color a product of lead and arsenic interactions in the crystal structure rather than any trace impurity, building across dark limonite in masses up to roughly 25 cm. The high-luster surface, composed of microscopic crystal points covering each botryoid, is extraordinarily prone to bruising, meaning truly pristine examples are a small fraction of surviving pieces. Benny Fenn brought the material to market at the time for a few dollars per pound; the subsequent recognition that the find would never be repeated drove prices sharply upward over the following decades, and cabinet-scale pristine specimens are now genuinely scarce.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"San Pedro Corralitos, Chihuahua, Mexico","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49123154362656,"sku":"CMMIM002","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_1260-2.jpg?v=1773894010"},{"product_id":"quartz-on-pyrite","title":"QUARTZ ON PYRITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBrilliantly lustrous pyrite takes center stage on this small cab specimen, dramatically framed by radiating quartz crystals. The pyrite's complex surface features natural cavities, later filled by both clear and smoky quartz crystals, creating an intriguing interplay between the two species. This unique crystallization sequence produces a fascinating play of light, as the nested quartz crystals change the roll of the luster across the front. Essentially all of the quartz on the display side is pristine, and any broken points can easily be hidden out of view. This is those specimens that, for composition and peculiarity, stands as more than the sum of its parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTrepča is a distal Pb-Zn-Ag skarn developed in Upper Triassic recrystallized limestone, formed in two stages: a high-temperature prograde phase dominated by clinopyroxene, followed by a retrograde open-system stage that deposited pyrite, quartz, carbonates, and the bulk of the sulfide ore at around 350°C. Pyrite at Stari Trg is notable for occurring in two distinct modes - sharp cubic and pyritohedral crystals on quartz matrix, and blocky hexagonal pseudomorphs after pyrrhotite that rank among the finest examples of that replacement known anywhere. The quartz accompanying both forms tends toward slender, transparent prismatic crystals with excellent terminations, sometimes arranged in radiating hedgehog clusters that contrast sharply against dark sulfide matrix. Trepča has been mined intermittently since Roman times and industrially since the 1920s, with specimen quality varying considerably by horizon and time period; pre-war material from before 1998 is particularly sought after as the mine flooding and subsequent reopening in 2005 disrupted access to previously productive levels. The mine remains active, and fine pyrite-quartz combinations still emerge periodically, though inconsistently.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Trepča Complex, Mitrovica, Kosovo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49432804852000,"sku":"","price":800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_1436_744d9062-b996-42d5-9387-03e84761950b.jpg?v=1773973983"},{"product_id":"elbaite-on-stilbite","title":"ELBAITE ON STILBITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTourmaline and stilbite make for an uncommon combination, and this piece makes for a great looking example! A richly colored crystal of rubellite measuring to cm is contrasted with a backdrop of tan stilbite crystals, with some white albite and purple sheeted crystals of the polylithionite-trilithionite series (formerly referred to as lepidolite). One end of the tourmaline has a pinacoidal termination, with the other being heavily etched into a more pointed appearance, and the whole specimen displays elegantly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/767af44617fd4836bcb46ba98730cba2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"absolute -bottom-0 -right-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"border-0.5 border-border-300 flex items-center translate-y-1\/2 rounded-lg shadow-sm transition bg-bg-000 p-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-text-400 flex items-stretch justify-between gap-0.5\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex gap-0.5\"\u003eFirst commercially worked in 1898, the Himalaya Mine intrudes the Peninsular Ranges batholith as a northwest-trending pegmatite dike emplaced approximately 99-90 Ma during Cretaceous subduction of the Farallon plate beneath North America. Elbaite occurs in spectacular watermelon zoning - pink rubellite cores from manganese grading to blue-green terminations from iron and copper substitution - alongside bicolor crystals reaching 5-7 cm. The celebrated 1989 pocket discovered by Bill Larson yielded exceptional doubly-terminated floaters showing intense color gradations. Stilbite forms cream to white \"wheat sheaf\" sprays up to 3 cm, characteristically perched on tourmaline terminations or quartz matrix. What distinguishes Himalaya specimens is the aesthetic combination of these two minerals - the calcium zeolite growing on lithium-rich pocket-zone elbaite creates striking textural contrasts. The pegmatite crystallized from water-rich residual melts during extreme fractional crystallization, with lithium, boron, and volatile enrichment driving gem pocket formation. The mine remains active with fee-dig operations, continuing over 125 years of specimen production.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Himalaya Mine, California, USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49731870458144,"sku":"","price":600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/ELBA1-1_1ae3da10-05a2-4765-b177-81c1c8dec664.jpg?v=1775511889"},{"product_id":"elbaite","title":"ELBAITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTrue eye candy of a tourmaline specimen: a large, doubly-terminated single crystal with vivid color zoning from end to end. At the top is a sharp termination with vibrant green coloration, which gradually fades to a more subtle blue-green hue. In the middle is a band of achroite (colorless tourmaline) which possesses gem clarity, giving way further down to another section of light blue color. Approaching the other end, the color turns to a rich pink, with another thin layer of green all the way on the pinacoidal termination. This crystal comes from newer finds in Nigeria, and the size and gemminess makes it a real standout.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/452468283e554afdb6a2c52f7fe168e4.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNigerian elbaite occurs within a 400-kilometer-long NE-SW trending pegmatite belt formed during the Pan-African orogeny, with mineralization dated between approximately 565-450 Ma during post-collisional extension. The pegmatites intrude Precambrian schist belts and migmatite-gneiss complexes as discordant dikes, with lithium enrichment developing during extreme fractionation of granitic melts. Jagindi District specimens display polychromatic crystals with vivid color zoning - combinations of pink, green, blue, and colorless (achroite) zones within single crystals reaching 2-4 cm. Doubly-terminated examples show particularly intense coloration from green to pink terminations with clear zones between. These tourmalines formed in lithium-enriched pocket zones alongside muscovite, lepidolite, and spodumene during pneumatolytic crystallization. What distinguishes Nigerian elbaite is the exceptional gem clarity combined with dramatic color transitions; specimens rival Brazilian material for transparency while showing distinctive zoning patterns. Most collector material emerged during finds in the 2000s-2010s, though the majority went to gem cutting rather than specimen markets. Production continues sporadically from small-scale mining operations throughout the pegmatite belt.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jagindi, Kaduna State, Nigeria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49731875275040,"sku":"","price":3250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/ELBA2-1.jpg?v=1775515126"},{"product_id":"fluorapophyllite-on-stilbite","title":"FLUORAPOPHYLLITE ON STILBITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePerched artistically atop this specimen is a \"bowtie\" of fluorapophyllite with rich color, both ends consisting of numerous sharp points. Lighter stilbite and brown, zeolite-coated matrix at the bottom help add just the perfect amount of contrast. Fluorapophyllite is by no means an uncommon species, especially from India, yet crystals with this gorgeous green color are much rarer, and specimens with this combination of aesthetic form and sharp crystallization will always be valued highly. It's also worth noting that specimens with this bowtie habit rarely pop up in examples of this size.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/816ba11a00b74ad4a43c7a31983e6735.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-test-render-count=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"group\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"contents\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-is-streaming=\"false\" class=\"group relative relative pb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"font-claude-response relative leading-[1.65rem] [\u0026amp;_pre\u0026gt;div]:bg-bg-000\/50 [\u0026amp;_pre\u0026gt;div]:border-0.5 [\u0026amp;_pre\u0026gt;div]:border-border-400 [\u0026amp;_.ignore-pre-bg\u0026gt;div]:bg-transparent [\u0026amp;_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [\u0026amp;_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [\u0026amp;_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [\u0026amp;_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"grid grid-rows-[auto_auto] min-w-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row-start-2 col-start-1 relative grid isolate min-w-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row-start-1 col-start-1 relative z-[2] min-w-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"standard-markdown grid-cols-1 grid [\u0026amp;_\u0026gt;_*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex justify-start\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Message actions\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-text-300\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-text-300 flex items-stretch justify-between\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex items-center\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"w-fit\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003eJalgaon's basalt quarries exploit gas cavities within the Deccan Traps flood basalts, erupted approximately 66 Ma during the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Secondary minerals including fluorapophyllite crystallized from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids circulating through the cooled lava flows over millions of years following eruption. The district produces exceptional fluorapophyllite specimens - water-clear to pale green doubly-terminated prismatic crystals reaching 5-6 cm, typically associated with peach-colored stilbite \"bowties\" on chalcedony or basalt matrix. Green coloration comes from vanadium impurities, while colorless examples display pure glassy transparency with sharp pyramidal terminations on all crystal faces. What distinguishes Jalgaon within the broader Deccan Traps region is the frequency of doubly-terminated crystals and exceptional size - larger than most other Maharashtra localities except certain Pune District occurrences. Berthold Ottens documented these quarries extensively beginning in 1996, noting that material has been extracted intensively since the 1970s when Rock Currier and others first brought Indian zeolite specimens to Western markets. Recent production from 2021 continues, though easily accessible pockets have been largely depleted after decades of systematic collecting.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jalgaon District, Maharashtra, India","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50043411923232,"sku":"","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/FLPH3-1.jpg?v=1775859254"},{"product_id":"beryl-var-emerald","title":"BERYL VAR. EMERALD","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eExtraordinary quality single crystal of emerald from a deposit in Madagascar that was worked from the 70's through the 90's. Being of an alluvial origin, the crystal is waterworn, yet it still shows fantastic form with a complete termination and a light coating of biotite mica, also being undamaged to boot. It displays vibrant green color with backlighting, and at over 6 cm it stands at an exceptional crystal size, both for the locality and for any crystal of emerald from any locality worldwide. This piece represents a great opportunity for collectors of emerald or general gem species to grab a standout crystal from a locality that’s not often seen on the market.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" preload=\"metadata\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/36da04cd76414479b19826ee20d245eb.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMining began in the Mananjary region during the mid-1970s after initial alluvial discoveries, with operations at Ambodibakoly exploiting placer deposits from approximately 1975-1982 before expanding to primary hard-rock workings at multiple open-pit mines between 1983-1995. The deposits occur where granitic pegmatites intrude mafic to ultramafic rocks, with emerald forming in phlogopite-rich (biotite-group mica) reaction zones at these contacts through metasomatic processes tied to Pan-African orogenic events around 550 Ma. Crystals reach multiple centimeters displaying colors from pale to intense bluish-green with gem-quality transparency in the best examples. Emerald and fluorine-rich phlogopite formed together when magmatic-hydrothermal fluids from cooling pegmatites reacted with chromium-bearing amphibolites and hornblendites at approximately 500°C and 2 kbar pressure. What distinguishes Mananjary emeralds is their characteristic inclusion assemblages - particularly talc, carbonates, amphiboles, and specific fluid inclusion types. The famous Morafeno mine produced the 536-kilogram \"Heaven's Gift Emerald\" specimen in 2007. Recent production from mines like Ambodivandrika and Ambatomaneno continues under descendants of original discoverer Jeannot Andrianjafy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mananjary District, Vatovavy Fitovinany, Madagascar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50043456323872,"sku":"","price":3200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/EMRL3-1.jpg?v=1774985823"},{"product_id":"beryl-var-emerald-1","title":"BERYL VAR. EMERALD","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTwo emeralds of excellent clarity, deep, rich color, and strong luster embedded in quartz matrix. The larger crystal measures to 1.2cm across, with the whole termination exposed, and both of the crystals exhibit their beryl morphology well. Muzo is without a doubt the king of emerald producing localities, and this is without a doubt a fine example from this famed locality!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColombia's Muzo mines sit within Lower Cretaceous organic-rich black shales deposited approximately 130 Ma in the Eastern Cordillera basin. Unlike most emerald deposits associated with igneous rocks, Muzo formed through hydrothermal-sedimentary processes where brines at 300°C dissolved evaporites, leaching beryllium while thermochemical sulfate reduction released chromium and vanadium trapped in black shales - all necessary elements for emerald crystallization. Crystals occur as hexagonal prisms in calcite veins, displaying the characteristic vivid \"Muzo green\" color with exceptional clarity and transparency, often reaching several centimeters. What distinguishes Muzo emeralds globally is their intense color saturation, large size, and distinctive three-phase inclusions containing liquid, gas, and solid sodium chloride crystals, plus occasional parisite or pyrite inclusions. Mining dates to pre-Columbian times, with Spanish exploitation beginning in the 16th century after indigenous Muzo people revealed the deposits. Modern operations under The Muzo Companies since 2009 have modernized extraction while prohibiting dynamite near veins to preserve crystal quality. Muzo remains the world's premier source for collector-grade emerald specimens and gem rough.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Muzo Mine, Boyacá Department, Colombia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50043460452640,"sku":"","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/EMRL2-1.jpg?v=1774984614"},{"product_id":"magnetite","title":"MAGNETITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAs far as magnetite crystallization goes, this cabinet-size specimen checks all the boxes. All across the front are textbook octahedral crystals measuring to 1.7 cm, with classic gunmetal grey color and some reddish hues caused by oxidation. These specimens were extracted in the early 2000's, and they really don't turn up for sale all too often. Magnetite may not be a rare mineral, but specimens with this quality of display certainly are! The main display area is in excellent condition, the only detractions are around the edges and on the backside from where the piece was extracted.\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-4b7490cb-7fff-0f5a-082a-8726abfd6ab5\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/85e280f5dd814f4183814d2cfb7fb6b2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe El Laco volcanic complex sits at 5,300 meters elevation in the Chilean Altiplano and hosts one of Earth's most unusual iron oxide-apatite deposits, formed approximately 2.0 Ma during Plio-Pleistocene volcanism. The magnetite occurs as lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, and subvolcanic dikes extruded from fissures on the volcano's flanks, representing the world's youngest and best-preserved Kiruna-type deposit. Specimens typically display octahedral crystals ranging from submillimeter to over 1 cm, often occurring as aggregates with metallic luster and rust-colored patina. What makes El Laco globally significant is its genesis through melt immiscibility; Fe-rich melts separated from andesitic magma and erupted as nearly pure magnetite lava. This process remains controversial, with ongoing debate between purely magmatic versus magmatic-hydrothermal models, though recent melt inclusion studies strongly support an igneous origin. Mining operations from the 1970s-1990s removed approximately 2 million tonnes, with the deposit designated an IUGS Geological Heritage Site in 2024. Collector specimens showing well-formed octahedra or spherules preserve evidence of this extraordinary volcanic iron mineralization process unmatched elsewhere on Earth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"El Laco Fe Deposit, Antofagasta Region, Chile","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50043462353184,"sku":"","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_26-03-17_22-46-50-737.jpg?v=1773813467"},{"product_id":"baryte","title":"BARYTE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eClassic cluster of Italian baryte with nice form and good gemminess in areas. The best part of all is the very distinct phantoms in the main crystal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/ef8ee8f8797447aa803fe1341b1ef437.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Villamassargia baryte deposits occur on Monte Mesu hill within Paleozoic metasediments of the Variscan external zone, with mineralization formed through late-to-post-Variscan hydrothermal activity (approximately 290-270 Ma) during extensional tectonics. The baryte crystallized from saline reducing fluids circulating through fault zones, with metal-bearing brines ascending through the crust driven by high heat flow. Specimens display tubular to tabular prismatic crystals in amber to chocolate brown colors, reaching over 10 cm in length with exceptional gemmy transparency. Many pieces show distinctive gray-green phantoms and color zoning from tan cores to red-brown terminations. What distinguishes Villamassargia is its status as Sardinia's premier baryte locality and one of Italy's finest sources for golden-hued crystallized baryte. Most collection material was extracted in the second half of the 1970s when mines on Monte Mesu were active, though sporadic finds continued through the 1990s. The mines have been closed for decades, making authentic Villamassargia baryte with sharp terminations and saturated color increasingly difficult to obtain at the quality that established the locality's reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Villamassargia, Sardinia, Italy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50595065299232,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/BRYT1-1_c7695c08-1b6e-4326-bb06-33544067b1bb.jpg?v=1774758763"},{"product_id":"mimetite-with-wulfenite","title":"MIMETITE WITH WULFENITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA very interesting locality pieces by form and composition; yellow botryoidal mimetite formed in multiple vugs, associated with some small yet sharp blades of golden wulfenite. When I first saw this, I immediately thought it had to be from Mexico, and yet it's from the other side of the world! This specimen is largely in great condition, some minor contacting doesn't detract from what is, again, an unusual and still very nice looking piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/58c484105cb74959a07c03c05a5a39b3.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLocated approximately 24 km southeast of Chupanan, the Gowd Mine exploited zinc-lead mineralization formed as fault-controlled veinlets and pockets within marble or at marble-schist contacts. Operations ran from the early 1940s until the early 1980s when high extraction costs and unstable schist-hosted adits caused closure. Mimetite occurs as thick tabular crystals in bright lemon-yellow to orange colors, many doubly terminated, reaching up to 1 cm with exceptional luster. The August 2015 find produced particularly fine examples on white calcite matrix. Wulfenite appears as small tabular to thin platy crystals, typically under 1 cm, in orange-red hues occasionally associated with the mimetite. What makes Gowd significant within the Anarak district is its production of unusually well-crystallized mimetite; the region's lead-zinc deposits typically yield fine cerussite and secondary lead minerals, but Gowd's combination of arsenate-rich fluids created conditions favoring distinctive mimetite formation. Vanadinite also occurs, with secondary vanadinite microcrystals occasionally growing on mimetite crystal faces. The deposits belong to the broader Yazd-Anarak Metallogenic Belt, where numerous carbonate-hosted lead-zinc occurrences formed through basin-derived hydrothermal fluids. Specimens from Gowd remain relatively scarce compared to neighboring localities like Nakhlak and Chah Milleh.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gowd Mine, Anarak District, Isfahan Province","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50595144565024,"sku":null,"price":400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_1932-2.jpg?v=1773894810"},{"product_id":"quartz-with-hedenbergite-andradite","title":"QUARTZ WITH HEDENBERGITE \u0026 ANDRADITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSuperbly balanced arrangement of prase quartz (a term for quartz colored green by different inclusions, in this case hedenbergite) pointing in all directions, balanced atop a matrix dotted with small crimson red crystals of andradite garnet. It’s an elegant specimen with a very nice subtle contrast between the soft forest green and the deep color of the garnet around it. From discoveries in the world renowned Dal’Negorsk in eastern Russia, this is excellent for both locality and size class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/805eb0373221483e830edfce9ef3e9e9.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sinerechenskoe skarn occurrence formed through contact metamorphism where granitic intrusions interacted with carbonate-bearing sedimentary rocks in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range of Far Eastern Russia. These skarns are part of the regional Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal systems that produced numerous tungsten, tin, and base metal deposits throughout Primorsky Krai. The specimens display bulb-like or tapered prismatic quartz crystals reaching 5-7 cm, colored gray-green to deep forest green by dense internal inclusions of acicular hedenbergite crystals. This prase variety of quartz typically grows on matrix composed of micro-crystalline to well-crystallized andradite garnet in chocolate brown to cinnamon colors, with individual andradite crystals occasionally reaching 1-2 cm. What makes Sinerechenskoe material distinctive is the combination of saturated green coloration from pyroxene inclusions and the high-quality andradite matrix; specimens showing both minerals at display quality are particularly valued. The locality is also known by alternate names including Blue River and Sinja Rechka. Most material was collected during the 1990s following the Soviet collapse when Russian mineral specimens first entered Western markets in volume, though sporadic collecting continues.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sinerechenskoe, Primorskiy Krai, Russia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50595474506016,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_2009-2.jpg?v=1773975504"},{"product_id":"veszelyite-on-zincolibethenite","title":"VESZELYITE ON ZINCOLIBETHENITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVeszelyite has been a highly treasured species since the famous Montana finds decades back, and more recent finds in the Republic of the Congo have produced a number of specimens that have made it more accessible to collectors. Atop a layer of softly contrasting blue-green zincolibethenite, the veszelyite here forms groupings that reach over an inch across, and the individual faces are super lustrous. When light hits from the right angles, one can see the alluring blue hues that make the species so desirable. An excellent example for size class, nicely balanced all around.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/54a706e5fb974bf09feac7881a3be116.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"\u003eMORE INFO:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"\u003eThe Palabanda Quarries host Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization in Neoproterozoic limestones similar to other carbonate-hosted deposits in the Central African Copperbelt, though the Congo Republic occurrences are geographically separated from the main Katangan belt deposits. The quarries were intensively explored in the 1940s-1960s but modern mining with ore processing only began in 2016, ceasing by 2018. Spirifer Minerals systematically collected veszelyite specimens during 2017-2019 operations, with notable finds continuing through summer 2023. The veszelyite forms as lustrous dark blue monoclinic crystals reaching 7 mm, typically on hemimorphite matrix with occasional associations including zincolibethenite - an olive-green copper zinc phosphate arsenate that creates striking color contrast against the deep blue veszelyite. What makes these combinations significant is veszelyite's extreme rarity, with macroscopic crystals known from only a handful of localities worldwide. The 2023 finds produced specimens with unusually isolated crystals distinct from earlier dense carpets, making them particularly valued by systematic collectors. Palabanda represents one of the finest known sources for this species, with specimens distributed at Tucson 2024 establishing new reference material for the mineral.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Palabanda Quarries, Bouenza Department, Republic of the Congo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50595587326240,"sku":null,"price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_2024-4.jpg?v=1774303295"},{"product_id":"fluorite-with-muscovite","title":"FLUORITE WITH MUSCOVITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCrowning the top of this ensemble is a lovely pale-pink (almost colorless), super gemmy crystal of fluorite, measuring 4.3cm, embedded right into the surrounding silver muscovite. It has excellent placement - comfortably perched and yet nicely exposed - accompanied by a second, smaller fluorite crystal further down. Both show phenomenal octahedral morphology with truncated corners, and they're completely damage-free. Honestly, I think the whole thing is perfectly balanced when it comes to aesthetics, and its condition really puts it over the top. It was formerly in the excellent collection of the late, great Jack Halpern (no. 2809), and the label of the dealer he bought it from shows it was priced at $5,500 at the time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/318e72eb3d7c469798bd83ae85d0710c.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Chumar Bakhoor pegmatites occur above 4,600 meters in the southern Karakoram Metamorphic Complex, intruding calc-silicate rocks along the flanks of Chumar Bakhoor Peak. These NYF-type pegmatites crystallized from volatile-rich melt residues related to the Sumayar pluton, likely emplaced during post-collisional extension less than 10 Ma ago. The fluorite forms as octahedral crystals ranging from pale pink to deep rose, reaching up to 9 cm, characteristically perched on coarse golden-pearlescent muscovite plates. The celebrated September 2006 pocket find near the summit produced specimens with exceptional transparency and color that set a new standard for the locality. What makes these combinations particularly valued is the visual contrast between glassy pink fluorite and metallic-silver muscovite. Mining occurs sporadically during brief summer windows before snow closes access, and recent 2021 production indicates the pegmatites remain active though extraction requires significant logistical effort and permission from Sumayar villagers who control access rights.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chumar Bakhoor, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51240292778272,"sku":null,"price":3875.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/Picsart_26-02-14_20-57-29-159_10bd8f0b-0929-4dbe-b2df-8466102118a0.jpg?v=1771211902"},{"product_id":"crocoite","title":"CROCOITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eQuite beautifully arranged specimen of crocoite from the famous and prolific finds in Tasmania. Front and center is a grouping of fiery red crystals, excellently formed and brilliantly lustrous. Above all else, they display a bipyramidal habit, with unusually sharp form and well-defined terminations for the mine. This morphology is more common for crocoite from other world localities, but much rarer for Dundas in comparison to the longer \"needlelike\" crystals, which usually show incomplete or missing terminations. For a small cabinet example, this one has it all: intense red color, sharp crystallization, and generous coverage!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\" controls=\"controls\" playsinline=\"\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" autoplay=\"autoplay\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/c43094e2fdbc4a88bf523b611b0da5b3.mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Adelaide Mine sits at the junction of Cambrian serpentinite and Devonian-age lead veins in the Dundas mineral field, where chromium from weathering ultramafics migrated into oxidizing galena deposits to form lead chromate. The brilliant orange-red prismatic crystals - often reaching 8-10 cm with characteristic hollow \"jackstraw\" habits - grow in vugs within friable gossan and altered listwanite. What makes Adelaide crocoite globally significant is both the crystal quality and the sheer volume produced from specific pockets. Frank Mihajlowits, the \"crocoite king,\" operated the mine from 1970-2004 and discovered a major watercourse in 1990 that yielded thousands of specimens over 14 years. The 2012 \"Red River find\" under current operator Adam Wright revealed another productive zone still being worked. Crocoite forms through recent supergene processes in rocks deposited during Devonian hydrothermal activity, making these specimens geologically young compared to their host formations. Tasmania designated crocoite its official mineral emblem in 2000, and Adelaide remains the world's primary source for collector-grade material. The mine's intermittent production means availability tracks closely with active mining sections.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Mine, Tasmania, Australia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51240416346400,"sku":null,"price":1175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_2548-4.jpg?v=1773708330"},{"product_id":"rhodochrosite-2","title":"RHODOCHROSITE","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFull coverage of gemmy, rich, raspberry red rhodochrosite hosted atop a bed of manganite matrix. A majority of the crystals are formed as tightly bunched clusters of scalenohedra which are truncated to give the tops of the clusters an almost rounded look, while still showing sharp faces along the sides. Some tiny quartz growths are visible atop the crystals and around their bases. This particular growth style is both highly desirable and characteristic for the Hotazel Mine, which preceded the finds at the N'Chwaning Mines. Individual scalenohedra are also present throughout, and the excellent translucency makes it absolutely glow with backlighting! Although it was sold to us as having come from the N'Chwaning mines, we can, again, say that it's almost certainly older Hotazel material based on style. Some very minor nicks and edge wear are present, yet it feels like splitting hairs to mention, considering in how good of condition it is for this material. For a locality whose specimens frequently reach five- and six-figure range prices, this is an excellent and more affordable example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVIDEO\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/3084c75d786e42f9a7c531af769dd485.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hotazel Mine produced rhodochrosite specimens during brief finds in the mid-to-late 1970s that remain distinct from the better-known N'Chwaning material. These crystals form as scalenohedral and occasionally truncated scalenohedral forms, typically reaching 1-1.5 cm in length, with colors ranging from cherry-red to salmon-pink depending on iron substitution in the structure. The specimens occur in vugs within massive manganese oxide ore, most commonly associated with hausmannite and manganite, occasionally with braunite and gypsum. What makes Hotazel rhodochrosite geologically significant is its connection to the ~2.4 billion-year-old Hotazel Formation - one of Earth's oldest major manganese accumulations, deposited during the Great Oxidation Event when atmospheric oxygen first rose to appreciable levels. The crystals formed much more recently through relatively shallow oxidation processes, but their host rocks record a critical transition in planetary history. For collectors, prime Hotazel specimens are considerably rarer than the subsequent N'Chwaning finds, with most material collected hastily by miners unfamiliar with specimen preservation. The characteristic luster and color saturation of 1970s Hotazel pieces, particularly those with hemispherical or mounded crystal aggregations, haven't been matched by later production from the field.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hotazel Mine, Northern Cape, South Africa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51240481882400,"sku":null,"price":4800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/IMG_2510.jpg?v=1771130915"},{"product_id":"pyrite-on-hematite","title":"PYRITE ON HEMATITE","description":"\u003ch3\u003eABOUT THE SPECIMEN\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTextbook pyritohedral crystal of pyrite - 6 cm across - with shining luster set on crystallized, lustrous hematite. Elba produced some of the finest pyrite not only in Europe, but from any region of the world, and this is from a particularly notable find made in the 1970s. Although they're pretty easy to find, this stands out from the rest for its size, sharpness of form, and balance, as well as the fact that it's complete all around and in excellent condition. It was held in Gene Meieran's extensive pyrite suite for decades, a testament to how exemplary it is for the material. Absolutely top-notch piece for both locality and size class!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVIDEO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cvideo autoplay=\"autoplay\" muted=\"\" loop=\"loop\" playsinline=\"\" controls=\"controls\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" preload=\"metadata\" style=\"max-width: 800px; width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 0 auto; border: none;\"\u003e\n  \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/videos\/c\/o\/v\/bad87dfdf20b43a9901283d9d30d71da.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\u003e\u003c\/video\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMORE INFO\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePyrite from \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eRio Marina\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e is tied to the classic iron deposits of eastern Elba, where skarn-like mineralization and hydrothermal activity overprinted earlier sedimentary sequences during Alpine tectonism. In this setting, pyrite formed alongside iron oxides and sulfides within magnetite- and hematite-rich bodies, often associated with contact-metasomatic processes linked to intrusive activity. Rio Marina material is especially noted for its sharply defined pyritohedral crystals, frequently striated and ranging from brassy metallic to subtly iridescent surfaces due to surface oxidation. Unlike many localities where pyrite appears as a secondary or accessory phase, here it is an integral part of the iron ore system, sometimes occurring embedded in ochreous limonitic matrix that reflects later weathering of the deposit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rio Marina, Tuscany, Italy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51485470523680,"sku":null,"price":1450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/5263\/8752\/files\/PYRT3-1.jpg?v=1776227586"}],"url":"https:\/\/aetherfineminerals.com\/collections\/small-cabinet.oembed?page=4","provider":"Aether Fine Minerals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}