AfghaniteThis stone is one of the best examples of GEM FACET GRADE Afghanite that we've had to offer. It has a "Cushion" cut with very very slight inclusions, but perhaps the most intriguing part is that it features a strong glowing sapphire blue color (comparable to Hauyne) that is not often associated with Afghanite. This piece, along with several others from the recent mining efforts, has been analyzed and confirmed as Afghanite by several laboratories

This piece was collected in 1977 out of a very small pocket that only produced a limited amount of good Apatite specimens

one of the greatest mineral dealers of his day and the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite (acquired from the collection of Franz Lammer of Leoben-Göss

It’s difficult to illustrate the quality in photos or videos but take my word for it when I say that this is a very good specimen of this classic material

are among the best in the world due to the fact that they occur with eye-visible spheres that are often very well crystallized and not broken in half

I only know of two this nice that came out

presumably where the crystals grew against the pocket wall

pleasing green color finger-shaped and spherical aggregates of Prehnite which have replaced preexisting Anhydrite

The Hohe Tauern reference is most likely a simple mistake as some people erroneously believe that the Zillteral is in the Hohe Tauern

I have no idea when this crystal was mined

Item #ALMGARSL131

Good green Garnet specimens are rarely seen in pieces this size

and along with specimens from the Sherman Mine in Leadville