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Pegmatite Mineral SpecimensReturn to Mineral Specimen Galleries
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B-256 Aquamarine,
Microcline, Smoky Quartz, Fluorite & Opal-AN (Hyalite) $850 Erongo Mountains, Karibib Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia 15.6 x 13.4 x 9.4 cm This large specimen consists of many twinned Microcline crystals measuring to 7 cm that serve as a host for numerous crystals of Aquamarine and Fluorite. The Aquamarine crystals range in color from sky blue to a light, inky-blue hue. The Fluorite crystals that seem to be everywhere on this specimen are found as cubes, some of which are modified on their edges and range in color from mint to medium green. There is one yellowish Fluorite crystal on this specimen that was suggested to me as possibly being Yttrofluorite but I have not had it tested. Also present on this specimen are partially clear crystals of Smoky Quartz measuring up to 3cm. The white mineral on the top portion of this specimen is Opal-AN, also called Hyalite and is fluorescent. All of crystals on this specimen are complete and undamaged. An aesthetic and very 3-dimensional specimen that can be displayed with several different orientations and always look good.
B-205 Aquamarine on Quartz $250 Tirschenreuth, Oberpfalzer Wald, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany 4.8 x 3.4 x 4.6 cm. An exceptionally nice (especially for Germany), translucent, pale green-blue Aquamarine crystal, perched on a matrix of Quartz. Beryl specimens from Germany are few and far between and are usually not terminated. When they are it is usually a flat termination that is often crude. Not only is this Aquamarine terminated, the termination is a Pyramidal one. This is most likely an older German specimen from the 1800's.
T-375 Topaz, Smoky Quartz and Orthoclase $40 Diamond Rocks, Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK 5 x 3.9 x 3.6 cm A vug of Smoky Quartz and Microcline. The top center side of the vug features a Topaz crystal measuring 6 millimeters in size. Specimens from location rarely make it outside of the UK.
T-374 Topaz, Smoky Quartz and Orthoclase $30 Diamond Rocks, Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK 7 x 3.8 x 3.1 cm A vug of Smoky Quartz and Microcline. The left side of the vug features three Topaz crystals, the largest of which measures 3 millimeters. Specimens from location rarely make it outside of the UK.
Q-482 Smoky Quartz on Microcline $60 Andrzej II Quarry, Zólkiewka, Swidnica, Lower Silesia, Poland 6.5 x 5.5 x 3.2 cm Two very clear & lustrous Smoky Quartz crystals aesthetically set on a matrix of well-formed crystals of Microcline. A neat feature of this piece is the overgrowth of transparent Microcline that covers the front and some of the top of this specimen.
F-318 Microcline with Gilbertite, Tourmaline & Smoky Quartz $35 Epprechtstein, Kirchenlamitz, Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany 4 x 2.7 x 2.5 cm A pair of well-formed, buff-colored crystals of Microcline. The Microcline serves as a host for many Tourmaline crystals that have been coated by the compacted variety of Muscovite known as Gilbertite.
H-085 Hureaulite with Correianevesite (TL) $265 Jocão Pegmatite, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil 18.3 x 8.2 x 3.3 cm This specimen is a great example of the diversity of Brazil's pegmatite minerals. The Jocão pegmatite is well-known for its suite of phosphate species that have been found there. It is very similar to the famous Tip Top Mine in South Dakota for the major phosphate species found. The most recognizable of these species is the uncommon manganese phosphate mineral, Hureaulite. This large specimen of salmon to pink-colored Hureaulite is comprised of crystals measuring up to 8 mm in size, many of which are translucent. Also present on this specimen are brown-colored crystals of of the rare iron phosphate mineral, Correianevesite measuring up to 5 mm in size. The Jocão Pegmatite is the type locality for Correianevesite. Correianevesite is named for Professor José Marques Correia Neves (1929-2011), mineralogist from Portugal, for his detailed studies of Brazilian pegmatites.
Z-006 Zanazziite on Quartz $50 Santa Maria Claim, Jenipapo District, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil 6.4 x 5 x 3.2 cm An example of the rare phosphate mineral, Zanazziite, richly coating several subhedral crystals of Quartz. Also present on this specimen is a patch of yellow-colored Lepidolite. Zanazziite is only found in a handful of localities worldwide.
F-306 Fluorapatite & Muscovite $150 Zé Pinto Prospect, Aldeia, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil 6.7 x 6.2 x 7.1 cm This specimen from the 1989 find at the Jose Pinto Mine features a combination of large, well-formed hexagons of Muscovite with many prismatic crystals of green-colored Fluorapatite. The Muscovite has an excellent metallic luster with a reddish-copper color. Even without the Fluorapatite crystals this would be a top notch Muscovite specimen. The combination of the two minerals makes it all the better. Another feature of this specimen is that the Fluorapatite crystals exhibit an mild-moderate yellow-orange fluorescence when lit by SWUV.
B-245 Aquamarine $225 Shengus, Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan 7.3 x 1.7 x 1.3 cm A slightly bent (due to tectonic forces) and double terminated crystal of Aquamarine. This specimen has great color. The upper portion of this crystal is gemmy and has a glass-like lustre. The lower portion below the bend has veil-like inclusions but is still pretty clear. The top of this crystal is crowned with several oddly-formed crystals of colorless Beryl.
T-376 Topaz $200 Pedra Azul Pegmatite District, Minas Gerais, Brazil 4.5 x 5.4 x 3.6 cm A Topaz crystal with a complex termination that has a small layer of Albite on one portion. This crystal has a blue-green hue and is mostly transparent. One corner of the specimen has an indented form. There is a small chip on the bottom of one corner face of the crystal but is barely noticed.
S-182 Spodumene $35 Walnut Hill Pegmatite, Huntington, Hampshire County, MA 3.5 x 2.7 x 2.8 cm A tan-colored, terminated crystal of Spodumene from an old-time East Coast locality.
Q-543
Quartz with Montmorillonite inclusions $100 White Queen Mine, Hiriart Mountain, Pala, Pala Mining District, San Diego County, CA 13.1 x 5.9 x 3.2 cm Here's a classic Quartz from the pegmatites of northern San Diego County. In 1970's several pockets with Quartz crystals with pink & white Montmorillonite inclusions were found. Many of the larger crystals were sawn in half & polished to better show these inclusions. These crystals are rarely seen these days & even rarer are large ones such as this.
F-317 Microcline $45 Shigar Valley, Shigar District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan 6 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm A bone-white, six-sided crystal of Microcline. Several of the faces of this crystal have a thin overgrowth of clear Microcline.
S-177 Spodumene variety Triphane $35 Dara-i-Pech Pegmatite Field, Chapa Dara District, Kunar Province, Afghanistan 3.9 x 1 x .7 cm A mostly clear yellow-colored crystal of the variety of Spodumene, Triphane. These blade-like crystals are uncommon in that they have not been etched as almost always is the case with Spodumene. From a find made in the early 1990's.
G-163 Spessartine Garnet $85 Navegadora Claim, Penha do Norte, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil 3.1 x 2.2 x 1 cm A fully-formed Spessartine Garnet that exhibits a geometric growth pattern and is a complete floater. This specimen has great color saturation, but not too dark like so many of these seem to be, and has good clarity. These photographs were taken with very little backlighting.
Morganite-Aquamarine combination crystals are pretty rare and when you can find them they are almost always Morganite with an Aquamarine center or one side is pink and the other is blue. You almost never see a bi-colored tabular Beryl with a Morganite core and the outer part of the crystal being Aquamarine. The combination of the pink and blue of the Beryl crystal along with the dark-green\black Tourmaline crystals (some of which penetrate the Beryl crystal with several of them being olive-green in color) and a whitish jacket of Albite make for a good contrast of colors. This specimen has no damage and is a complete crystal. The largest of the Tourmaline crystals shows signs of having broken while in situ, but has been re-healed, as is indicated by the growth hillocks that are visible on the end of the crystal. This aesthetic specimen was often used in my competitive exhibits and has been part of numerous 1st place displays.
S-163 Stilbite $50 Mawi Pegmatite, Nilaw-Kolum Pegmatite Field, Du Ab District, Nuristan, Afghanistan 3.9 x 2.7 x 2.7 cm While not unheard of, Zeolite minerals in pegmatites are not that common. Especially when it comes to Afghanistan where the only other pegmatite occurrence of a zeolite mineral are the Pollucite crystals from 15-20 years ago. This specimen features many well-formed and undamaged crystals of honey-brown-colored Stilbite. I'd seen several of these associated with Kunzite a few years back but that was it for this find. This specimen would make a fine addition to anyone's collection of pegmatite or zeolite minerals.
F-312 Microcline (Manebach twin) $60 Medina Pegmatite Field, Pedra Azul, Minas Gerais, Brazil 8.6 x 7.5 x 3.5 cm A large crystal of Manebach-twinned Microcline from Brazil's renowned Pedra Azul District. This crystal is has an bone-white hue with darker flesh colored highlights. Also present on this specimen are small crystals of Muscovite.
A-105 Fluorapatite $65 Sapo Mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil 4.6 x 1.4 x 1.1 cm. Apatite from this mine has come out in a huge array of styles over the years, this particular form being the most interesting in my opinion. This sculptural and complex Apatite crystal shows an interesting inter-grown form. As an added bonus the crystal is hollow and double-terminated. This crystal is damage free and has a terrific lustre.
B-244 Beryl with Albite & Muscovite $120 Baha, Braldu Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan 7.5 x 6.5 x 5 cm Here we have a combo specimen of bi-colored Beryl, bronze\brass-colored Muscovite and massive, white Albite. The Beryl crystal is double-terminated and has a glassy lustre. An interesting specimen from one of Pakistan's lesser know pegmatite localities.
A-125 Fluorapatite with Muscovite $65 Golconda Pegmatite Field, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil 4.9 x 4.5 x 3.3 cm A double-terminated crystal of Fluorapatite with several platy crystals of Muscovite. This crystal has a satin-like lustre and features a secondary growth of smaller and clearer Fluorapatite crystals. Areas of this specimen exhibit a moderate SW & LW fluorescence.
T-298 Fluorite & Muscovite on Schorl $150 Tubussis Farm 22, Dâures Constituency, Erongo Region, Namibia 6.4 x 4.5 x 3.4 cm. This Schorl specimen is adorned with cuboctahedral crystals of Fluorite that show well-oriented purple and Green zoning. In addition to the Fluorite, the Schorl is crowned by rosettes of Muscovite that cascade down the back of the specimen. And to bring it all together, the Schorl has a satin-like lustre that is very pleasing to the eye. This is a much better than average example of this material that lived in my collection for almost 10 years.
Q-572 Rose Quartz on Quartz $75 Pitorra Claim, Laranjeiras, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5.4 x 4.3 x 3.2 cm A piece of milky Quartz blanketed by nearly transparent crystals of Rose Quartz.
Wushan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China 5.3 x 4 x 2.6 cm. These Spessartines are definitely in the upper echelon of Garnet specimens. For the past 15-16 years, Chinese Garnets have been quite abundant. But the really good specimens have been too few and hard to come by. I am very fortunate to be able to get these amazingly gemmy specimens from a lesser known Chinese locality. These Garnets have a luster that has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Another plus is the striking orange color, much like the famous Spessartine Garnets from the world famous Little Three mine in Ramona, California.
S-110 Kunzite and Cleavelandite on Quartz $2,250 Mawi Pegmatite, Du Ab District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan 22 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm. Up until 20-25 years ago, Kunzite specimens on Matrix were virtually unheard of. Not until the last 15 or so years have there been that many really good matrix Kunzite specimens on the market; before that the matrix Kunzites from Afghanistan were usually pretty mundane looking. Here we have one of the better looking matrix Kunzites that can occasionally be had. This combo specimen has an 11 cm. Kunzite piercing a 22 cm. Quartz crystal and is enveloped by a jacket of light-blue, curved, Cleavelandite crystals up to 3 cm. in size. The rich reddish-purple colored Kunzite crystal is gem-clear with a pristine termination that grows fainter in color towards the top, yet when viewed down the c-axis a strong purple hue is visible. The color of the Kunzite, combined with the light-blue color of the Cleavelandite makes for a nice contrast of colors. This combined with a base of Quartz makes for an especially aesthetic specimen. The Quartz crystal that serves as the matrix for this Kunzite-Cleavelandite combo is contacted on the bottom and portions of the side, which leads me to believe that this specimen came from a corner of the pocket. Both the Quartz and the Kunzite possess a brilliant lustre. One more interesting feature of this specimen is that the Kunzite has a strong orange fluorescence under LWUV light and a strong hot-pink fluorescence under SWUV light. Also observed was that small areas of the Quartz and Cleavelandite showed weak orange fluorescence under LWUV as well.
S-137 Spodumene
variety Triphane $175 San Pedro Mine, Hiriart Mountain, Pala District, San Diego County, California 5.7 x 5 x 1.5 cm. A well-formed, complete all-around, gemmy and faintly pastel-green-colored Spodumene from a classic San Diego County location. This is a curious and singular specimen in that it has a color that is not usually seen in Spodumene from Southern California. A very good example of San Diego Spodumene.
T-343 Elbaite $40 Mawi Pegmatite, Nilaw-Kolum Pegmatite Field, Du Ab District, Nuristan, Afghanistan 6 x 4.4 x 2.4 cm A pod or concretion of finely crystallized, mint-green-colored Tourmaline.
M-063 Muscovite & Orthoclase $30 Chabanne Quarry, Saint-Sylvestre, Haute-Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France 4.3 x 3.8 x 3.7 cm This specimen features many spheres of Muscovite measuring up to 7 mm in size, on a matrix of flesh-colored Orthoclase. Examples of botryoidal Muscovite, or any of the Mica minerals, are rare.
B-241 Aquamarine $40 Padre Paraíso, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5.1 x .9 x .6 cm A very clear Aquamarine with a light blue color and a hollow center that has been filled with pocket clay. This crystal is much clearer the the photos convey. Oddly, unlike almost all of the beryl found at this location, this crystal is not etched at all.
T-294 Topaz & Smoky Quartz on Microcline $85 Papachacra, Belén Department, Catamarca, Argentina 5.5 x 5.3 x 3.4 cm. This specimen consists of two well-formed, twinned crystals of Microcline partially surrounding a slightly etched crystal of Topaz. Also present are several crystals of Smoky Quartz. The whole assemblage is dusted with minute crystals of Muscovite and a little bit of Chlorite. This specimen is nearly a floater, with only a portion of the bottom of the specimen showing any contact.
Q-431 Quartz with Indicolite Tourmaline $50 Joao Velho Mine, Jenipapo District, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil 7.4 x 3.3 x 3 cm. When I examine this specimen I have a hard time figuring out where the Quartz ends and the Tourmaline begins. Is this a Tourmaline specimen or a Quartz specimen? I've handled my share of these Indicolite included Quartz crystals over the years but have not seen one quite like this before. This singular specimen is heavily included to the point that it is draped with a cascade of minute Indicolite crystals. You will either find this piece ugly or you will embrace its weirdness, like I did when I bought it.
S-157 Spodumene on Quartz $75 Nevel Quarry, Newry, Oxford County, ME 5.2 x 4.4 x 2.6 cm A specimen of opaque, off-white-colored Spodumene from Newry, Maine. The Spodumene is terminated on one end and sits in/on a matrix of Quartz. Also present on the specimen are several areas of silvery-colored Muscovite.
A-104 Fluorapatite $60 Sapo Mine, Ferruginha, Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5.6 x 3 x 1.3 cm. Apatite from this mine has come out in a vast array of styles over the years, this particular form being the most interesting in my opinion. This sculptural and complex Apatite crystal shows an interesting inter-grown form with divergent columns emanating from the upper portion of the specimen. As an added bonus the crystal is hollow, is terminated on all ends and damage free with a great lustre.
S-139 Siderite on Albite $30 Conselheiro Pena Pegmatite District, Minas Gerais, Brazil 3 x 2.4 x 2.2 cm. One mineral that you don't often see from Brazil's pegmatites is Siderite. It just isn't that common. This specimen features a complete all-around, damage free 2.5 cm. crystal of Siderite with crazy form. Normally I would have cleaned this specimen, but was reluctant to do so just in case the ochre colored mineral on the Siderite was something special.
Q-603 Rose Quartz SOLD Parun Pegmatite Field, Nuristan, Afghanistan 6 x 3.1 x 2.6 cm Rose Quartz, while common, is rarely found as crystals, most of which are found in Brazil. This specimen is from the small find made in 2002. No more of these spectacular Rose Quartz crystals from Afghanistan have been found since. Most of the Rose Quartz crystals from this find could be measured in millimeters. This specimen features single crystals up to 1.9 cm. in size on a partial crystal of Smoky Quartz.
B-217 Brazilianite on Microcline SOLD Telírio claim, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5.2 x 3.4 x 1.2 cm. Here we have a translucent crystal of Microcline draped with many gemmy crystals of Brazilianite. There have been a lot of Brazilianite specimens available the last 10-12 years but you don't see that many on matrix. Especially ones that look as good as this one.
B-263 Heliodor SOLD Padre Paraíso, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5.5 x 2.1 x 1.4 cm This bi-colored Beryl crystal has a medium yellow color and a light blue-colored termination. This crystal shows unusual grooves and etching patterns around its surface which makes for a texture that feels just a little bit rough to the touch, although it certainly appears smoother from a distance. The visual effect is to make the surface more sparkly from the extra minute reflection points. The lower portion of this crystal has an indent caused by another crystal that grew up against it. Classic Brazilian Beryl from a modern-day classic location.
E-042 Eosphorite SOLD Taquaral, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil 3.2 x 2 x 2 cm A spray of Eosphorite crystals. The clove-colored crystals on this specimen are all terminated. Eosphorite is an uncommon secondary mineral in phosphate-bearing granitic pegmatites.
P-097 Petalite SOLD Palelni
Mine, Khetchel Village, Molo Quarter 2.1 x 1.3 x 1 cm A very clear crystal of the uncommon Li-silicate mineral, Petalite. This Petalite crystal has been hydrothermally etched. The Palelni mine is a beryllium rich pegmatite area that intruded a peridotite body. Rarely this locality produces examples of the lithium aluminum silicate Petalite. Typically Petalite occurs in colorless crystals, and only rarely well crystallized.
B-239 Beryllonite SOLD Dara-i-Pech Pegmatite Field, Chapa Dara District, Kunar, Afghanistan 2.6 x 2 x .8 cm A nearly clear, off-white colored crystal of the rare sodium, beryllium phosphate mineral, Beryllonite. This specimen has a wax-like pearly lustre.
B-258 Aquamarine & Muscovite on Microcline SOLD Shengus, Roundu District, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan 6.5 x 6.3 x 3.1 cm A 5.4 centimeter, gem-clear and double terminated crystal of Aquamarine resting on a blocky crystal of Microcline. A group of silvery crystals of Muscovite add a nice accent to this specimen.
F-305 Amazonite with Schorl SOLD Zapot Pegmatite, Gillis Range, Fitting Mining District, Mineral County, NV 13.1 x 10.2 x 8.2 cm A very large example of Amazonite with a dusting of Schorl crystals. This locality was best known for its attractive Topaz crystals, which are some of the best from the United States, but this classic granitic pegmatite has also produced some attractive turquoise-blue Amazonite specimens. This crystal is complete with some contacting near the base. Specimens from this location are very hard to come by these days, as the mine is now defunct.
F-244 Microcline, Beryl & Muscovite SOLD Pingwu
Beryl Mine, Mount Xuebaoding, Pingwu County 8 x 8.2 x 3.6 cm One thing you don't see often from Pingwu are specimens of Feldspar. This specimen consists of three baveno-twinned crystals of Microcline on a matrix of Muscovite accented by small crystals of clear Beryl. The Microcline crystals have a good lustre and are completely intact.
E-039 Epidote, Titanite & Schorl on Microcline (twin & double terminated) SOLD Incline Village, Washoe County, NV 9.5 x 10 x 7.8 cm The eastern slope of the northern Sierra-Nevada range is a host to numerous miarolitic cavities that have for the most part have been, most likely because of the rugged collecting conditions, left untouched. This specimen is an example of what can be found in these occurrences. This specimen consists of a Manebach law-twinned & doubly-terminated crystal of Microcline generously covered with mats of of green-colored Epidote crystals, brown-colored Titanite crystals measuring up to 6mm and micro-fine crystals of Schorl (analyzed by J. Attard in 2009) that range from light-steel-blue to dark blue\black in color. Specimens from this location are highly prized by local collectors and are almost never offered for sale.
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