Tuesday Update – Asia

TODAY is national Hobbit Day, who knew? Well not me, up until now. That said, we have some ‘precious’ specimens today, but all from Asia.

Asia is the largest of all the continents by both land area and population, but most of the population is concentrated within two countries: China and India. Of course, there are vast parts where nobody lives and the spread of mineral diversity is equally sporadic, with famous individual mines and great swaths of mineralogical wilderness.

Today’s update covers 11 different countries and over 22 different species, but rather than diversity, or rarity, many of the specimens demonstrate how exceptionally beautiful the minerals of Asia can be.

From pegmatites to basaltic zeolites, epithermal vein-hosted, high-temperature hydrothermal vein-type, alpine-type veins and supergene secondary species, the range is broad.

Mineralogically, some of the colours and combinations of species on offer are simply dazzling, but so too are the stunning crystal forms. The Calcite twins from India and China are spectacular in their perfection, but the ‘V’-shaped twin from Leiping Mine 884 is particularly memorable, reminding me of the Chinese principles of Yin and Yang, where the contrasting colours of the Calcite (red with Hematite inclusions and colourless with no inclusions) are distinctive, yet complement each other perfectly in their aesthetics not just in the twin, but in the smaller crystals down each side of the specimen too.

Elsewhere, the vivid yellow-orange Mimetite from Thailand is world-class in its size and quality and the Daoping mine Pyromorphites are equally impressive for their size and stunning forms. As display specimens these will all add significant colour and beauty to a cabinet, and shows why secondary lead species are often so desirable.

Really, there are just too many choice specimens to highlight, so I will allow you to enjoy them at your leisure.

However, don’t forget, if you are planning on visiting the Munich Show in Germany from Thursday October 22 to Sunday October 25 and would like specific specimens brought along to view, from either our USA or UK showrooms then do please ask. 

Next week we will present to you a great new selection of worldwide Fluorite specimens from our most recent acquisitions. The range of colours to be seen is spectacular and something to really look forward to.

Please note: Today's featured specimens are situated at both our US and UK showrooms.