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THE  CORUNDUMINIUM

     
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VAULT  #1

 

 
 

SPECIMENS  FOR SALE,  Priced $1,000.00  or  more

 
     
 

Last updated July 13, 2008

 
     
  1:   HUGE  KASHMIR  SAPPHIRE  
 
     This twinned crystal  (the one on the left in the photos of the pair) is, quite simply, by far the finest specimen of sapphire gem rough that I have seen from  Kashmir.  It weighs approximately 120 carats, and it contains a facetable zone that has been estimated to produce a clean, medium blue 6 to 7 carat stone.  Much of the rest should be heat treatable to produce numerous smaller stones.    However, we would prefer that this specimen remains as one of the finest crystals in existence from what is likely the World's most romantic sapphire locality.    For further information,  contact me at wheierman@corunduminium.com or Ed Cleveland at info@kashmirblue.com .   Serious inquiries only, please. 

 
     
     
  2:   HUGE  KASHMIR  SAPPHIRE  
 
    This superb specimen from Kashmir weighs approximately 60 carats.  I have seen only one from there that I would say is finer, and it is the one directly above.   This one is also seen as the right member of the two images of the pair above.  Note that it has an interesting "silk" pattern that indicates it would be heat treatable and could produce several fine medium blue faceted stones.   However, it is rarer and probably more valuable as a  superb crystal from what is probably the World's most romantic sapphire locality!   The pictures are thumbnails, so clicking on them will reveal higher resolution images.   For further information, contact me at wheierman@corunduminium.com or Ed Cleveland at info@kashmirblue.com.    Serious inquiries only, please.   

 
     
 
  3:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]         

weh-e1

 
 
This is my favorite emerald specimen.  The smaller, broken but healed interpenetrant twin is translucent, meaning it is not white or black inside as so many of these huge crystals are.  The larger one is, unfortunately, more opaque and somewhat irregularly colored on the back (that is why it is the back).  When I first saw it, it was almost totally covered with gneiss; and the little part exposed made me think it was a large tourmaline crystal.  The asking price here is what I paid for it around 1998.                                                                US $35,000

 
     
     
  4:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]      
 
Pale green emerald crystal sections in a quartz seam, within rock weighing 57 pounds and measuring about 10 inches by 13 inches (two images).  $1,400

 
     
     
  5:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]      
 
Emeralds in a quartz seam, within rock weighing 57 pounds and measuring about 10 inches by 13 inches (two images).  $1,400

 
     
     
  6:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]      
 
Series of dark green, translucent crystals up to 3 inches long; weight about 4 pounds, 12 ounces.  $2,750
 
     
     
  7:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]      
 
My "corner specimen", so named because it fits nicely in a corner, and the back is quite incomplete (second image).  It weighs about 16 pounds, 13 ounces and is about 8 inches high.  The exposed part of the big crystal is about 4 inches long and 2 inches in diameter.  $1,400

 
     
     
  8:   BERYL,  var.  EMERALD   [BRAZIL]  
 
 Decent hex outline, broken crystal about 2-3/4 inches in diameter in specimen weighing about 6 pounds, 14 ounces.  $900
 
     
     
  9:   PAINITE  [ WET  LOO  MINE,  KYAUK  PYA  TART,  BURMA ]  

ipa-2

 
 
     Though larger clusters exist, I know of only one crystal bigger than this one; and this one is doubly terminated!  It may be, all things considered, the finest painite crystal around.  It weighs about 101 grams (505 carats). It is well-formed and slightly complex, showing both "parallel growth" striations and "herring-bone  twinning".          $12,500

 
     
     
 
10:   RUBY  AFTER  PAINITE  PSEUDOMORPH  [ KYAUK  PYA  TART,  BURMA ] 

ipa-1

 
     
 
    This is the strangest one I have seen.  It appears to be a ruby corundum pseudomorph after painite, but it may have a painite core.  Note also the druze of gemmy ruby crystals!   It is also quite large, weighing 178 grams (about 890 carats).         $12,500

 
     
     
 
11:   LILAC  RUBY  CLUSTER  [VIET  NAM]

ln-1

 
 
     This cluster of flattened crystals from Luc Yen, Yen Bai Province, is unusually large (3 inches long, weighing about 176 grams), and the color is not exaggerated.  It is translucent.  The large crystals could be better terminated, but overall it is an extremely fine, "museum-grade" specimen!                                                                            SOLD

 
     
     
 
12:   NORTH CAROLINA  (Jacobs Mine, Cowee Valley)

rd-1-267

 
 
    By all standards, this Jacobs Mine ruby is huge, weighing 17.73 carats.  It is subtranslucent and slightly incomplete on the bottom (second photo - that's why it's called the bottom)!  It has a pearly luster to the top face that may be rutile, and it may star if cabbed properly; but I would save it as a superb thumbnail  crystal.  It is natural and untreated, a true rarity - an outstanding American corundum specimen!             $1,900.00; domestic shipment by insured mail included in price.

 
     

 

13:   JALGAON,  INDIA:   CALCITE,  APOPHYLLITE,  HEULANDITE

kcp-1

    

This large, almost 12" long specimen contains a flowerlike cluster of spicular, gem pale green apophyllite crystals (near right) and a clear calcite (far right) which formed after colorless apophyllite and heulandite.  It is a most unusual and attractive combination of these three minerals, and I do not see any damage.                                                                                                                       Net:  $9,000.00

 
14:   AHMEDNAGAR,  INDIA:  "DISCO"  APOPHYLLITE

kcp-17

An approximately 3-inch diameter "disco ball" of radiating cubic gem apophyllite crystals gives this specimen its unusual name.   There are also a couple of minor okenites (the fuzzy white balls) attached.  I have seen only two or three of comparable quality                                                                  $3,000.00

 
15:   AHMEDNAGAR,  INDIA:  "DISCO"  APOPHYLLITE

kcp-19

This "disco" apophyllite, so named because the cluster of radiating pale green gem apophyllite crystals resembles a disco ball, is about 4 inches long.  It is a fine specimen of this recently discovered habit.  It also has a few small okenites attached (Far right photo)                          $1,200

 
16:   WAGHOLI  MINE,  POONA,  INDIA:  CAVANSITE

kcp-22

This is an unusually fine specimen of this mineral, One of the few named named after its chemistry (calcium vanadium silicate).  It is about 5 inches across.  It is an unusually dense accumulation of large radiating clusters, especially evident in the detail to the right.  Specimens like this may occasionally be found, but there is no guarantee another pocket will produce more of this exceptional quality.    There is one tiny incomplete ball which does not really affect the appearance of the specimen, just visible at the top left of the nearest cluster in the second photo.                                                                                                                   $2,900