Minerals

This is a 154.3tcw lot of beautiful rough emeralds.  There are 24 pieces that range in size from approximately 8x6-25x16 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.

Fulgurite, also known as “fossilized lightning”, are natural glass tubes or formations that are created by the heat of lightning strikes.  When a lightning bolt hits the ground it generates temperatures of up to 30,000 Kelvin (over 53,000°F), hotter than the surface of the sun. This intense heat melts the silica rich sand and fuses it almost instantly, forming hollow branching structures that solidify as they cool.  In the Sahara Desert where thunderstorms occasionally roll in across the desert, these cooled formations can be found beneath the sand. 

The fulgurites from the Sahara Desert are special because of their environment. The desert’s quartz rich sand is the perfect material for these glassy formations. Over time the wind blown sand often buries and preserves these delicate formations protecting them from erosion. Fulgurites are scientifically important because they trap the energy of the lightning and often preserve the composition of the atmosphere at the time of their creation. They are valuable to researchers studying geophysical processes and past climate conditions. And with their irregular shapes and glassy texture they are a sought after collectible for mineral enthusiasts and natural history museums. Of note, since Fulgurite is created by an impact of lightning hitting the ground, it cannot be called impactite as it is not created by a meteoritic event. 

Fulgurite is often considered a symbol of transformation, energy, and connection to the divine, primarily due to its association with lightning.  Some believe fulgurite carries the power of lightning itself—acting as a conduit between the physical and spiritual realms. It's said to help with spiritual awakening or to encourage personal growth by clearing blockages, especially when it comes to energy flow or communication with higher states of consciousness. Because of its fiery origins, it can be seen as a tool to help ignite creativity or insight, as lightning strikes are associated with sudden inspiration or illumination.

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 marcasite crystal form.  It is in excellent condition.  

Name: Goethite After Marcasite Pseudomorph
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized Specimen
Dimensions:  41x34x36 mm / 1.6x1.3x1.4 inches
Weight: 76.2 grams / 2.7 ounces 
Origin: White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Egypt

This is a 30.28tcw lot of beautiful rough emeralds.  There are approximately 78 pieces that range in size from approximately 3x2-5.5-3.5 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.

Fulgurite, also known as “fossilized lightning”, are natural glass tubes or formations that are created by the heat of lightning strikes.  When a lightning bolt hits the ground it generates temperatures of up to 30,000 Kelvin (over 53,000°F), hotter than the surface of the sun. This intense heat melts the silica rich sand and fuses it almost instantly, forming hollow branching structures that solidify as they cool.  In the Sahara Desert where thunderstorms occasionally roll in across the desert, these cooled formations can be found beneath the sand. 

The fulgurites from the Sahara Desert are special because of their environment. The desert’s quartz rich sand is the perfect material for these glassy formations. Over time the wind blown sand often buries and preserves these delicate formations protecting them from erosion. Fulgurites are scientifically important because they trap the energy of the lightning and often preserve the composition of the atmosphere at the time of their creation. They are valuable to researchers studying geophysical processes and past climate conditions. And with their irregular shapes and glassy texture they are a sought after collectible for mineral enthusiasts and natural history museums. Of note, since Fulgurite is created by an impact of lightning hitting the ground, it cannot be called impactite as it is not created by a meteoritic event. 

Fulgurite is often considered a symbol of transformation, energy, and connection to the divine, primarily due to its association with lightning.  Some believe fulgurite carries the power of lightning itself—acting as a conduit between the physical and spiritual realms. It's said to help with spiritual awakening or to encourage personal growth by clearing blockages, especially when it comes to energy flow or communication with higher states of consciousness. Because of its fiery origins, it can be seen as a tool to help ignite creativity or insight, as lightning strikes are associated with sudden inspiration or illumination.

Lapis Lazuli or Lapis for short, is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious gemstone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense color. This piece of Lapis Lazuli has been tumbled smooth and would be suitable as a worry stone.

Product Type: Lapis Lazuli Tumbled
Specimen Size: Miniature-Sized
Dimensions:  52x41 mm / 2.0x1.6 inches
Weight: 10 Grams / 0.3 ounces
Origin: Afghanistan

Iceland Spar, also known as optical calcite, is a clear, transparent variety of calcite famous for its unique optical property called double refraction. When you place the crystal over text or an image, it appears doubled — a visual effect that occurs because light splits into two rays as it passes through the crystal. This fascinating trait made Iceland spar historically important in early optical instruments and scientific studies, including navigation and the development of polarizing microscopes.

It’s typically colorless or very lightly tinted and forms naturally in sharp, rhombohedral shapes. High-quality Iceland spar is most famously found in Iceland, though it also occurs in places like Mexico, the U.S., and China.

Iceland Spar (optical calcite) is often associated with clarity, insight, and truth. Because of its double refraction property, some see it as a symbol of seeing beyond surface appearances — helping to highlight different perspectives or reveal hidden aspects of a situation. It's thought to support clear thinking and honest communication, making it a favorite for meditation or decision-making spaces.

Name: Iceland Spar Optical Calcite
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions: 36x12x13 mm / 1.4x0.4x0.5 inches 
Weight: 16 Grams / 0.5 Ounces
Origin: Guangxi Province, China

Iceland Spar, also known as optical calcite, is a clear, transparent variety of calcite famous for its unique optical property called double refraction. When you place the crystal over text or an image, it appears doubled — a visual effect that occurs because light splits into two rays as it passes through the crystal. This fascinating trait made Iceland spar historically important in early optical instruments and scientific studies, including navigation and the development of polarizing microscopes.

It’s typically colorless or very lightly tinted and forms naturally in sharp, rhombohedral shapes. High-quality Iceland spar is most famously found in Iceland, though it also occurs in places like Mexico, the U.S., and China.

Iceland Spar (optical calcite) is often associated with clarity, insight, and truth. Because of its double refraction property, some see it as a symbol of seeing beyond surface appearances — helping to highlight different perspectives or reveal hidden aspects of a situation. It's thought to support clear thinking and honest communication, making it a favorite for meditation or decision-making spaces.

Name: Iceland Spar Optical Calcite
Specimen Size:  Miniature-Sized
Dimensions: 36x25x21 mm / 1.4x1.0x10.8 inches 
Weight: 59 Grams / 2.1 Ounces
Origin: Guangxi Province, China

Samarskite is a radioactive rare earth mineral. Samarskite crystallizes in the orthorhombic – dipyramidal class as black to yellowish brown stubby prisms although it is typically found as anhedral masses. Specimens with a high uranium content are typically metamict and appear coated with a yellow brown earthy rind.

Samarskite-(Y) is rich in rare earth elements (REEs), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta)—all of which are valuable in advanced electronics, alloys, and green energy technologies. The mineral can also contain trace amounts of uranium and thorium, which may cause it to be slightly radioactive.

Due to its uranium content, samarskite-(Y) is considered radioactive. It's recommended to wash hands after handling and avoid inhaling dust when breaking or handling the mineral. 

This specimen is in very good condition and displays very well.  Make this a special specimen in your collection. 

Name: Samarskite (Y)
Specimen Size:  Thumbnail-Sized  
Dimensions:  18x18x10 mm / 0.7x0.7x0.4 inches  
Weight:  3.4 Grams / 0.12 Ounces   
Origin: Luster # 2 1/2 Pegmatite, South Platte Mining District, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA 

Health Warning:    Contains uranium – always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

This is a 16.9ct lot of beautiful rough emeralds.  This is the exact lot that you will receive.  The sizes of the emeralds range from 7.5 to 9.0 mm.

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.