Minerals

Peruvian pyrite is famous worldwide for its well-formed, highly lustrous crystals. The country is one of the top sources for high-quality pyrite specimens, particularly from the Huanzala Mine in the Áncash Region and the Quiruvilca Mine in La Libertad. These locations produce stunning pyritohedral crystals, often found in association with quartz, sphalerite, and galena.   The entire top of the specimen is covered with many sharp brassy pyrite crystals with some smaller white quartz crystals.

The term “pyritohedral” refers to a specific crystal habit that pyrite (and occasionally other minerals) can form. In this structure, the crystal takes on a polyhedral shape with 12 faces. However, unlike a perfectly symmetrical shape with identical pentagonal faces, natural pyritohedral crystals often exhibit slight irregularities or distortions in their faces.

Pyrite is known as a stone of protection, abundance, and confidence.  It is believed to shield against negative energy and promote mental clarity and willpower. 

This great Peruvian specimen is in very good condition.  Would be a beautiful addition to any new or existing collection.

Name: Pyrite Cluster 
Specimen Size:  Cabinet-Sized
Dimensions: 75x55x44 mm / 3.0x2.1x1.7 inches 
Weight: 267 Grams / 9.4 oz 
Origin: Mined in Quiruvilca Mine, Quiruvilca District, Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad, Peru

This is a 45.4 gram lot of beautiful tumbled Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan.  There are 5 pieces that range in size from approximately 21-33x12-19 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.

Lapis lazuli is a vivid blue metamorphic rock and a gemstone that has been prized for its intense color and historical significance for thousands of years.  It's composed of lazurite (for the blue color), calcite, sodalite, and pyrite. It is the presence of pyrite that causes the gold-colored flecks or veins in the stone.  It has a moderate hardness, typically ranging from 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale.  High-quality lapis lazuli has been historically sourced from mines in Afghanistan; however, other deposits are found in countries such as Russia, Chile, Italy, and the United States.

Lapis lazuli is believed to promote self-awareness and mental clarity.

Oolites in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, are tiny, sand-sized, spherical or ovoid grains (0.15–1.5 mm) formed by calcium carbonate precipitating in concentric layers around a nucleus—often brine shrimp fecal pellets or mineral fragments—in shallow, wave-agitated water. These light brown grains, commonly found on Antelope Island and Stansbury Island, are modern examples of carbonate sedimentation.

This geological specimen found around Stansbury Island and other parts of the Great Salt Lake is an interesting addition to any mineral collection.

Name: Oolites
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions:  50x22 mm / 2.0x0.9 inches (Incl bottle)
Weight:  31.4 Grams / 1.1 ounces (incl bottle)
Origin: Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Pseudomorphs are mineral specimens that have the external shape of one mineral but are composed of another.  The pseudomorph goethite after marcasite forms when marcasite is exposed to oxidizing conditions and starts to oxidize and break down. As the marcasite breaks down, goethite replaces it in the crystal structure, preserving the shape of the original marcasite crystal. The resulting specimen appears as a marcasite crystal, but is actually composed of goethite.

The Farafra Oasis, in the White Desert, has been known for a number of years to deliver incredible pseudomorph specimens. The pseudomorphs occur within the Cretaceous Khoman Chalk, from which the White Desert derives its name.

This specimen is remarkable for its relatively sharp and bladed marcasite crystal form.  It is in excellent condition.  

Name: Goethite After Marcasite Pseudomorph
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized Specimen
Dimensions:  36x27x27 mm / 1.4x1.0x1.0 inches
Weight: 45.2 grams / 1.6 ounces 
Origin: White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Egypt

The Gold Hill Wash Prospect, part of the Clifton-Gold Hill Mining District, is known for its rich mineral resources, including jarosite. This mineral is part of the larger group of minerals found in the area, which also includes limonite.

The Gold Hill Mine, operated by the Western Utah Copper Company in the early 20th century, was significant for its arsenic deposits, although it closed after World War I. The mine's portals and shafts have since been sealed by the state of Utah.

This specimen from the Gold Hill Mine is a matrix covered with minute jarosite crystals.  This specimen is an interesting addition to any mineral collection.

Name: Jarosite
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions:  53x49x33 mm / 2.1x1.9x1.3 inches
Weight:  64.91 Grams / 2.3 ounces
Origin: Mined in Gold Hill Mine, Gold Hill, Gold Hill Mining District (Clifton Mining District), Tooele County, Utah, USA

This is a 53.2tcw lot of beautiful rough emeralds.  There are 9 pieces that range in size from approximately 11-17x8-12 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  

Ancient Romans associated the emerald with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.   They firmly believed that this stone's purity was so strong that no evil presence could exist around it.

Emerald is connected to the heart chakra.  It is said to bring about great love and promote happiness and faithfulness in a relationship.

This is a 57.94tcw lot of beautiful, rough pink Kunzite from Afghanistan.  There are 6 pieces that range in size from approximately 15x9 - 38x9mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  

Kunzite is the best known variety of the mineral spodumene. It’s named after famed gemologist George Frederick Kunz, who was the first to identify it as a unique variety of spodumene.

Kunzite gets its delicate color from trace amounts of manganese. This specimens are from the gem pegmatites of Nooristan, Afghanistan. 

Kunzite is a stone deeply connected to the heart and love. A joyful stone, kunzite opens and connects the heart with the mind, encouraging communion between the two. While wearing kunzite, it is thought you are better able to experience and reciprocate love. 

This is a 42.78tcw lot of beautiful reddish orange, unheated rough Spessartite garnets from Nigeria.  There are 29 pieces that range in size from approximately 4.5x4 - 9x6 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  

Spessartite garnet is considered a vibrant stone of creativity, vitality, and joy, strongly associated with the sacral chakra. Its fiery orange tones are believed to ignite passion, motivation, and inspiration, helping to clear creative blocks and restore enthusiasm. Often linked to confidence, courage, and positive self-expression, spessartite is also thought to encourage optimism, attract abundance, and support the transformation of creative ideas into purposeful action.

This is a 31.46tcw lot of beautiful yellow, unheated rough chrysoberyl from Madagascar.  There are 21 pieces that range in size from approximately 5x5 -13x8 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  

Yellow chrysoberyl  is believed to emphasize personal power, confidence, motivation, and mental clarity. It’s often described as a stone of focus, self-worth, and manifestation, helping with decision-making, overcoming self-doubt, and turning ideas into action. 

This is a 47.5tcw lot of beautiful unheated rough emeralds from Columbia.  There are 15 pieces that range in size from approximately 5x9 -18x16 mm.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  

Ancient Romans associated the emerald with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.   They firmly believed that this stone's purity was so strong that no evil presence could exist around it.

Emerald is connected to the heart chakra.  It is said to bring about great love and promote happiness and faithfulness in a relationship.