Welcome to the 2001 Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show!
 
 

 

Minerals from
Pakistan & Afghanistan

It doesn't seem to matter what show I go to these days - Tucson, Munich, Denver, wherever!  There are always some very high quality minerals from Pakistan and Afghanistan coming to light.  It seems that the diversity is also continuing to expand (Note the new find of the rare mineral Chevkinite-Ce from Pakistan).  Anyway, I have found a couple dozen or so specimens there that were too good to leave behind so I brought them across the Atlantic and North American continent to little ol' Weaverville here in northern California.

AFG-01  $550.00
Topaz and Elbaite
7.7 x 4 x 4 cm
Paprock
Kunnar
Afghanistan
 

A specimen of the new find of light blue topaz with elbaite!  This specimen has a 2.5 x 2.6 cm complete crystal of topaz set atop matrix consisting of microcline, lepidolite, and tourmaline!  There are several quartz crystals mixed in as well.  There are too many crystals of tourmaline to count and I see at least a half dozen that are fully terminated like the two in the upper right hand photo.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

This specimen has a lustrous, doubly terminated crystal of light blue topaz with several crystals of green elbaite.  There is a minor amount of lepidolite at the base of the specimen.  The large tourmaline crystal is 3.9 cm in length and is also doubly terminated!

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Over a half dozen fully and sharply terminated crystals of violet colored sapphire are exposed from calcite matrix.  The largest crystal is 1.1 cm in length.

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4 cm, fully terminated crystal of bluish green tournaline set among three doubly terminated crystals of quartz.

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Two fully terminated, deep lilac colored crystals of tournaline are set on this specimen of smoky quartz crystals partially etched. The largest tourmaline is 2.5 cm in length.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Large cabinet specimen with a 7 cm, etched, two-toned fluorite crystal.  Associated with the fluorite are several crystal cluster of beryl var. goshenite to 2 cm in length.   Interestingly, the fluorite changes color at the point where two intergrown muscovite crystals are found.  The color change is very sharp!  No damage to any of the crystals on this attractive specimen!

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Large specimen of intergrown crystals of fluorite on muscovite.  The fluorite is completely crystalline with no damage at all.  The habit of the fluorite is octahedral with cubic and dodecahedral face modifications.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

3.2 cm octahedral crystal of green colored fluorite sets on matrix of muscovite.  The interior of the crystal is pink.  The surface of the crystal has been naturally etched to develop a matted lustre.  No damage to the crystal.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Fully terminated, gem crystal of zoisite.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Fully terminated, gem crystal of zoisite.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Fully terminated crystal of zoisite.

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Fully terminated, gem crystal of topaz exposed from calcite matrix.

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Fully terminated, crystal of beryllonite.   Beryllonite is a phosphate of sodium and beryllium. Crystals are rather rare in nature.

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John@TrinityMinerals.com

Click here to see the 2000 Saint-Marie aux Mines show report The Official Sainte-Marie aux Mines Show Website