The Vault

TT48AL5: Group of flattened, twinned crystals, with lattice growths, colorless, transparent, with good luster and small inclusions of Malachite. Of the best quality for a historical locality, especially for its perfection since these specimens are usually very fragile, often have damage, but this piece is nevertheless perfect. The sample comes from the Dick Norris collection (no. 179) whose label, together with a previous one by Dave Bunk, we will send to the buyer.
Mammoth-St. Anthony Mine, St. Anthony deposit, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal County, Arizona  USA

Specimen size: 4.7 × 3.4 × 3.2 cm = 1.85” × 1.34” × 1.26”

Main crystal size: 4.6 × 3.1 cm = 1.81” × 1.22”

TV89AL5: Group of Beryl crystals (variety bixbite), one of them clearly dominant, doubly terminated, shiny, with a very intense color, on matrix. An excellent American classic that for years has disappeared from the market due to the cessation of work on the deposit.
Wah Wah Mountains, Beaver County, Utah  USA

Specimen size: 6.3 × 5.6 × 4 cm = 2.48” × 2.20” × 1.57”

Main crystal size: 1.6 × 1.3 cm = 0.63” × 0.51”

TF37AM5: Very aerial aggregate of sharp Azurite crystals with an unusual morphology for the deposit. They are lustrous, have a very deep and vivid color and are partially covered by fibrous Malachite. The Milpillas mine closed in June 2020.
Milpillas Mine, level 1100, Cuitaca, Municipio Santa Cruz, Sonora  Mexico (01/2020)

Specimen size: 10.4 × 6.1 × 3.8 cm = 4.09” × 2.40” × 1.50”

Main crystal size: 2.3 × 1.6 cm = 0.91” × 0.63”

TA74AL5: Aggregate, on matrix, of thick lenticular Azurite crystals, with very well defined faces and edges, with the intense brilliance and blue color (“electric blue”) that Milpillas is so famous for. With small coatings of fibrous Malachite. The Milpillas mine closed in June 2020.
Milpillas Mine, level 1100, Cuitaca, Municipio Santa Cruz, Sonora  Mexico (2019)

Specimen size: 6.7 × 5 × 3.5 cm = 2.64” × 1.97” × 1.38”

Main crystal size: 3 × 2 cm = 1.18” × 0.79”

MC47AL5: Kulanite crystals with very well defined crystal forms, large for the species, highly lustrous and on matrix, with rhombohedral Siderite crystals, small water-clear Quartz crystals, and white crystals, many of them doubly terminated, of Fluorapatite. The specimen, from the type locality, is one of the best that has been found.
Crosscut Creek, Kulan Camp area, Rapid Creek area, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory  Canada (07/1995)

Specimen size: 6.5 × 5.3 × 3.4 cm = 2.56” × 2.09” × 1.34”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.4 cm = 0.39” × 0.16”

NT67AM5: Very sharp crystals of Fluorite, transparent, with bright luster and an intense lilac color and geometric color zoning, blue on the edges. On matrix, with small Quartz crystals and lamellar Baryte crystals. High quality even for Berbes, a locality that has produced so many exceptional pieces.
Berbes mining area, Berbes, Ribadesella, Comarca Oriente, Asturias, Principality of Asturias  Spain (±1998)

Specimen size: 12.8 × 9.8 × 5.6 cm = 5.04” × 3.86” × 2.20”

Main crystal size: 4.3 × 4 cm = 1.69” × 1.57”

NF38AM5: Druse of Fluorite crystals with polycrystalline surfaces, transparent, lustrous, and with an extraordinarily intense, deep and uniform blue color. With geometric color zoning, violet on the edges and with small white Quartz coatings. The color is memorable.
La Viesca Mine, La Collada mining area, Huergo, Siero, Comarca Oviedo, Asturias, Principality of Asturias  Spain (2007)

Specimen size: 11 × 8.4 × 8 cm = 4.33” × 3.31” × 3.15”

Main crystal size: 5 × 4.6 cm = 1.97” × 1.81”

NF92AM1: Fluorite crystals, one of them clearly dominant and very aerial, with a cubic habit beveled by the dodecahedron, transparent, very shiny, with a bluish lilac color. On matrix, with white Quartz crystals. An excellent Spanish classic, of great quality.
Llamas Quarry, Obdulia vein, Caravia mining area, Las Cabañas, Duyos, Caravia, Comarca Oriente, Asturias, Principality of Asturias  Spain

Specimen size: 8.1 × 4.8 × 6.4 cm = 3.19” × 1.89” × 2.52”

Main crystal size: 1.9 × 1.8 cm = 0.75” × 0.71”

NB27AM5: Group of Fluorite crystals with a cubic habit finely beveled by the dodecahedron, extraordinarily transparent, with bright luster and a uniform pale blue color, on a microcrystalline Quartz matrix. An excellent Spanish classic.
Llamas Quarry, Obdulia vein, Caravia mining area, Las Cabañas, Duyos, Caravia, Comarca Oriente, Asturias, Principality of Asturias  Spain (2018)

Specimen size: 14 × 11.2 × 4.7 cm = 5.51” × 4.41” × 1.85”

Main crystal size: 2 × 2 cm = 0.79” × 0.79”

NA89AM5: Group of Fluorite crystals with cubic habit, beveled by the dodecahedron, transparent, with great luster and a uniform blue color with phantom growths, on a Quartz matrix with scalenohedral Calcite crystals. Among the best found at this locality.
Llamas Quarry, Obdulia vein, Caravia mining area, Las Cabañas, Duyos, Caravia, Comarca Oriente, Asturias, Principality of Asturias  Spain (2018)

Specimen size: 14.8 × 9.6 × 7.8 cm = 5.83” × 3.78” × 3.07”

Main crystal size: 3 × 3 cm = 1.18” × 1.18”

EX92AM1: Short doubly terminated prismatic Fluorapatite crystal, with very well defined faces and edges, lustrous, and with a distinct geometric color zoning, popularly known in Panasqueira as “olho de boi” (ox's eye), with intense and uniform blue-violet prism faces. On a matrix of Quartz crystals, with lenticular Siderite crystals, Chlorite coatings and leafy Muscovite aggregates. This color is very rare in Panasqueira and more so in pieces of such quality, which are usually old pieces, as in this case.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro  Portugal

Specimen size: 11.6 × 7.8 × 6.5 cm = 4.57” × 3.07” × 2.56”

Main crystal size: 4 × 2.1 cm = 1.57” × 0.83”

ER92AM1: Group of Fluorapatite crystals with a short prismatic habit, extraordinarily transparent, with good luster and a somewhat bluish green color, with geometric zoning, on a Quartz crystal matrix with flattened Ferberite crystals and lenticular Siderite crystals. This is an old piece, as one no longer sees Fluorapatite pieces with this color and transparency.
Minas da Panasqueira, Aldeia de São Francisco de Assis, Covilhã, Castelo Branco, Cova da Beira, Centro  Portugal

Specimen size: 14.5 × 10.7 × 7.8 cm = 5.71” × 4.21” × 3.07”

Main crystal size: 1.5 × 1.1 cm = 0.59” × 0.43”

MA50AL5: Floater rosette of Azurite crystals, with an unusual habit for the deposit, and an unusually bright color, along with an octahedral Malachite pseudomorph after a crystal of Cuprite. The specimen is from the type locality for the species and a magnificent French classic. It comes from an old Spanish collection and with the piece we will deliver the associated collection label.
Chessy-les-Mines, Les Bois d'Oingt, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes  France

Specimen size: 9.5 × 6.7 × 5.5 cm = 3.74” × 2.64” × 2.17”

Main crystal size: 2 × 1.5 cm = 0.79”

TA98AL5: Centered aggregate of acicular Erythrite crystals, with the habit, brilliance and presentation that have made the Schneeberg Erythrites famous. This is the type locality for the species. The specimen, apart from being classic and very aesthetic, also has a long pedigree documented in its accompanying label record which we will send to the buyer.
Schneeberg District, Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony/Sachsen  Germany

Specimen size: 9.2 × 5.7 × 5.3 cm = 3.62” × 2.24” × 2.09”

Main crystal size: 3 × 1.2 cm = 1.18” × 0.47”

ER94AM1: A large doubly terminated scepter and stepped crystal of Diaspore with polycrystalline terminations, transparent, lustrous, yellow with green reflections and partially covered in some areas by leafy growths of Margarite. A very remarkable specimen both for its size and color and for its perfection.
Ilbir Mountain, Pinarcik, Milâs District, Muğla Province, Aegean Region  Turkey (2020)

Specimen size: 14.9 × 3.6 × 1.7 cm = 5.87” × 1.42” × 0.67”

EA62AL5: Groups of red Quartz crystals, elongated, many of them doubly terminated, intergrown, and forming very "sculptural" groups - a very different habit from the usual. Finds of this type of Quartz in Dalnegorsk were quite ephemeral and as they appeared, they quickly disappeared too, so it is not easy to get such elegant specimens as this one. The red Quartz is partially covered by a second generation of white Quartz.
Second Sovetskii Mine, (Second Sovietsky Mine; Second Sovietski Mine; Second Sovietskiy Mine, 2nd Sovietskiy Mine; Vtoroi Sovietskiy Mine; 2nd Sovietskii Mine; Dal'negorsk; Tetyukhe; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche; Tetjuhe), 230↓, Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai  Russia (±1998)

Specimen size: 15.5 × 11.4 × 6.4 cm = 6.10” × 4.49” × 2.52”

Main crystal size: 3.4 × 0.25 cm = 1.34” × 0.10”

EA62AM2: Groups of flat prismatic Bertrandite crystals, very sharp and well defined, many of them doubly terminated, which contrast with the smoky tones of the group of Quartz crystals, partially covered by small Pyrite crystals. An excellent specimen of a rare species from a currently extinct locality.
Kara-Oba, Betpak-Dala (Bet-Pak-Dala) Desert, Karaganda Region  Kazakhstan (1985-1990)

Specimen size: 24 × 20 × 14 cm = 9.45” × 7.87” × 5.51”

Main crystal size: 1 × 0.4 cm = 0.39” × 0.16”

MC36AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. The piece shows excellent crystallization, with the dodecahedron as the dominant form and parallel growths of very sharp crystals with a very distinct spinel-law twin. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 1.5 × 0.6 × 0.5  cm = 0.59” × 0.24” × 0.20”

Main crystal size: 0.7 × 0.2 cm = 0.28” × 0.08”

MN96AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. The specimen shows excellent crystallization, with the dominant dodecahedron, with some hopper faces, and very sharp and stylized growths and with a very distinct spinel-law twin. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 2.3 × 0.6 × 0.5 cm = 0.91” × 0.24” × 0.20”

Main crystal size: 0.6 × 0.3 cm = 0.24” × 0.12”

MQ46AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. The specimen shows excellent crystallization, with the dominant forms of the dodecahedron and the octahedron, with some of the faces forming very sharp and stylized growths that clearly show the distinct spinel-law twinning. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 2.5 × 0.5 × 0.3 cm = 0.98” × 0.20” × 0.12”

Main crystal size: 0.4 × 0.2 cm = 0.16” × 0.08”

MR46AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. This specimen shows an excellent crystallization, with the dominant octahedron, flattened and very sharp, with slight twists following the main axis, with very distinct spinel-law twinning. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 2.7 × 0.4 × 0.4 cm = 1.06” × 0.16” × 0.16”

Main crystal size: 0.4 × 0.3 cm = 0.16” × 0.12”

MG7AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. The specimen shows excellent crystallization, with a dominant and very sharp octahedron, some parts with hopper formations, in parallel growths, very stylized and with a very distinct spinel-law twin. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 3.4 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm = 1.34” × 0.20” × 0.20”

Main crystal size: 0.3 × 0.2 cm = 0.12” × 0.08”

ML12AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. The specimen shows excellent crystallization, with very sharp forms of the octahedron and parallel and stylized growths that form very distinct spinel-law twins, and a hooked termination. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 3.6 × 0.3 × 0.3 cm = 1.42” × 0.12” × 0.12”

Main crystal size: 1.9 × 0.1 cm = 0.75” × 0.04”

ME57AM5: These elegant Golds were found for the first time in 2020. This piece shows excellent crystallization, with the dominant octahedron, very sharp and in parallel growth, very stylized and with a very distinct spinel-law twin. Absolute novelty and of great quality. The material has been carefully analyzed and we will send a copy of the analysis to the buyer.
Aouint Ighoman, Assa-Zag Province, Guelmim-Oued Noun Region  Morocco (2020)

Specimen size: 4.1 × 0.7 × 0.6 cm = 1.61” × 0.28” × 0.24”

Main crystal size: 0.8 × 0.3 cm = 0.31” × 0.12”

EB27AM2: Tabular Vanadinite crystals on matrix, translucent, brilliant, and with the intense and vivid red color that characterizes many of the specimens found in 2017.
ACF Mine, Mibladen mining district, Mibladen, Midelt, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region  Morocco (14/05/2017)

Specimen size: 8.2 × 7 × 2.7 cm = 3.23” × 2.76” × 1.06”

Main crystal size: 1.7 × 1.3 cm = 0.67” × 0.51”

EG91AM1: Very sharp, transparent, brilliant Proustite crystals with an intense and vivid color that partially cover hooked Silver wires. On matrix, with white Quartz crystals and small but very sharp octahedral crystals of Acanthite. In Imiter, it is very rare to find free-standing specimens in a vug like this one, which also has the unusual detail of the Silver wire coated with red Proustite crystals.
Imiter Mine, Jebel Saghro, Imiter District, Tinghir Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region  Morocco (±2019)

Specimen size: 17.3 × 8.5 × 6.7 cm = 6.81” × 3.35” × 2.64”

Main crystal size: 1.2 × 1 cm = 0.47” × 0.39”

TR98AL5: Hexagonal floater crystal, with very marked polycrystalline growths, shiny, transparent and with an intense deep blue color. The species, a magnesium-potassium cyclosilicate, is a rarity recently (2019) approved by the IMA. The specimen comes from the type locality for the species. Accompanied by an original label signed by Laurent Thomas, after whom the species is named.
Beravina, Ambaro, Tsaraitso, Betroka District, Anosy Region  Madagascar (04/2019)

Specimen size: 2 × 1.8 × 0.5 cm = 0.79” × 0.71” × 0.20”

MD94AL5: The Madagascar Tourmalines that have become famous for their coloration and brightness have an excellent representative in this specimen of bicolor Elbaite, with parallel growths, very rich in well defined terminal faces, transparent, with good luster and a magnificent gradation of tones, from the more intense pink at the base up to the different gradations of green in the prism and the upper termination.
Bevaondrano pegmatite, Ikalamavony District, Matsiatra Region, Fianarantsoa Province  Madagascar

Specimen size: 5 × 2.5 × 2.3 cm = 1.97” × 0.98” × 0.91”

MQ26AL5: An excellent example of Malagasy polychrome Fluor-liddicoatite, with very well defined faces and edges, rich in termination faces, between transparent and translucent, and with a splendid gradation of hues, from the purple tones around the termination and the base to the caramel colors of the center of the prism. A gem.
Anjanabonoina, Ambohimanambola, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province  Madagascar

Specimen size: 9.8 × 5 × 4.8 cm = 3.86” × 1.97” × 1.89”

TZ27AM5: Large doubly terminated and very sharp Brazilianite crystals, transparent, with good luster and a very vivid color and on an Albite matrix. Partially covered with small, very sharp crystals of Greifensteinite, a rare phosphate of calcium, iron, and beryllium.
Marcel Telirio Mine, Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais  Brazil

Specimen size: 8 × 7.2 × 4.3 cm = 3.15” × 2.83” × 1.69”

Main crystal size: 6.5 × 2.8 cm = 2.56” × 1.10”

TJ89AL5: Very aerial, dendritic and parallel growths of elongated crystals of native Gold with rounded crystal habits and a very distinct spinel-law twin. A fine and elegant specimen that comes from the Robert J. Noble collection, whose label we will send to the buyer. This piece may well be one of the largest gold spinel-law twins ever found in the prolific Serra do Caldeirão find.
Serra do Caldeirão claims, Pontes e Lacerda, Alto Guaporé District, Mato Grosso  Brazil (9-12/2015)

Specimen size: 3.3 × 1.2  × 1.3 cm = 1.30” × 0.47” × 0.51”

ER53AM5: Twinned Cassiterite crystals, on matrix, with Quartz crystals. The crystals have very well defined faces and edges, they are transparent to translucent and dark brown in color. The luster and size of the crystal are extraordinary. One of the best pieces found in this locality.
Amo deposit, Ximeng, Pu'er Prefecture, Yunnan Province  China (2002)

Specimen size: 11.8 × 9.7 × 7.5 cm = 4.65” × 3.82” × 2.95”

Main crystal size: 4.7 × 4.7 cm = 1.85” × 1.85”

ET70AM5: Large crystal with an apparently octahedral habit, formed by polycrystalline growths with dominant dodecahedral forms. Transparent, lustrous, pale pink in color, more intense in the center of the crystal. On matrix, with Quartz crystals and white Dolomite rhombohedra.
Shangbao Mine, Leiyang, Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province  China (2007)

Specimen size: 11.3 × 9.5 × 9.2 cm = 4.45” × 3.74” × 3.62”

Main crystal size: 10 × 9.5 cm = 3.94” × 3.74”

ET88AM5: Group of complex equant Calcite crystals, very rich in forms, transparent, with very good luster and a uniform orange-yellow color with lively golden reflections. Extraordinary. Its origin is curious, since these Calcites appeared unexpectedly in a coal mine, and just as suddenly as they had appeared, after a short time they were never seen again.
Daye, Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province  China (2009)

Specimen size: 21 × 15.3 × 7 cm = 8.27” × 6.02” × 2.76”

Main crystal size: 5.8 × 3.8 cm = 2.28” × 1.50”

TC13AG1: Monumental, a top specimen. Few Acanthites are as impressive as those from this mine and this one in particular stands out for its extraordinary quality.



Hongda Mine, Xiaoqinggou, Lingqiu, Datong Prefecture, Shanxi Province  China (08/2016)

Specimen size: 8.6 × 6.2 × 4 cm = 3.39” × 2.44” × 1.57”

Main crystal size: 2.5 × 1.7 cm = 0.98” × 0.67”

ET26AM1: Extraordinarily shiny floater crystal of Wittichenite with complex polycrystalline growths dominated by finely striated prism faces and smoother bipyramid faces. The specimen was part of the lucky find in 1981 from which only a few crystals were recovered, since then considered "icons" as they are the best known for the species.
The sample has been noted and photographed in the article 'Wittichenite from the Cattle Grid Pit, Mount Gunson mine, South Australia' of the ‘Mineralogical Record‘ magazine on page 140 in the volume 44, number 2, March-April 2013
Cattle Grid deposit (Mount Gunson), Mount Gunson Copper mines, Pernatty Lagoon, Stuart Shelf, South Australia  Australia (1981)

Specimen size: 3.2 × 2.4 × 0.8 cm = 1.26” × 0.94” × 0.31”