BH01 Scolecite

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
14.3x 11.0x 15.4 cm

$2000

Scolecite is among the most common of Deccan zeolites.  Finding a specimen of this caliber however is very difficult.  I would guess that approximately 99.8% of the scolecite specimens out there are actually the remnants of larger specimens (yes, I am talking about all those sheaves and sprays.)

This specimen consists of a perfect, nearly spherical spray of the mineral in a vug.  Its location inside the cavity has protected the cluster and prevented it from receiving any damage whatsoever.  Even when these clusters are collected relatively intact, during handling/ packing/shipping they are always broken... but again, the position of the spray inside this vug prevents it from getting damaged.

I was curious as to how this thing was removed from the quarry, particularly as it is so delicate, and had the good fortune of speaking with the man who prepared the piece.  Believe it or not, following the initial quarry blast, this specimen started out as a 150 kg (330 lb) boulder  with only a 1-2 inch opening through which the scolecite could be seen.  Over the course of a couple weeks, he would spend an hour or two each day carving the piece down with hand tools.  The final steps involved enlarging the opening with an electric saw, and then once again using hand tools to hide the saw marks.

As I have said before, the amount of work that goes into preparing some of these specimens is truly amazing, and the skill necessary to chisel and saw the hard basalt in such close proximity to the delicate crystals should not be understated.

Again, prior to my trips to India I really didn't care much for Indian minerals.  Getting to meet the individuals  who collect and prepare them has really caused me to gain respect for these people and their rocks... and getting to know the story of how some of these specimens made it from quarry to market (for me at least) makes them much more satisfying to buy.

BH02 Fluorite on Amethyst

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
13.5x 8.8x 2.7 cm

$950

This specimen is one of a few pieces from a recent pocket of exceptional fluorites.  Specimens from this pocket are notable for the apophyllite druze that coats the fluorite, and in some cases, the quartz matrix as well.

This pieces has exceptionally large and well formed fluorite hemispheres on matrix. It is very unusual to find so many fluorite hemispheres, particularly of this size, on a single specimen.  The amethyst matrix and apophyllite druze also set it apart.

Please note that the top edge of the largest ball is flat.  This is most clearly visible in the last photograph, and is the result of the hemisphere being in contact with another hemisphere, which cleanly separated into another specimen.  This is not damage however, the hemisphere is entirely present to the extent that it naturally formed. 

I was curious about how these are found at the quarry, so I asked one of the mine runners.  As with virtually all Indian minerals, these are a byproduct of quarrying for road fill.  Interestingly, whenever a well mineralized pocket is hit, there is always water present.  Following a blast, this water serves as an indicator, and helps alert specimen collectors to the potential presence of samples. 

The mine runner also added that a Hindu holyman had claimed that the water could cure illnesses... the quarry workers seemed to know better though.

BH03 Fluorite on  Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
11.5x 10.0x 4.5 cm

$850

This specimen is one of a few pieces from a recent pocket of exceptional fluorites.  Specimens from this pocket are notable for the apophyllite druze that coats the fluorite, and in some cases, the quartz matrix as well.

This piece has an exceptionally large and well formed 4.3 cm fluorite hemisphere on matrix.  The specimen is entirely damage free; I have seen hundreds of these fluorites, though in my opinion the apophyllite druze and size of the specimen make this one stand out.

I was curious about how these are found at the quarry, so I asked one of the mine runners.  As with virtually all Indian minerals, these are a byproduct of quarrying for road fill.  Interestingly, whenever a well mineralized pocket is hit, there is always water present.  Following a blast, this water serves as an indicator, and helps alert specimen collectors to the potential presence of samples. 

The mine runner also added that a Hindu holyman had claimed that the water could cure illnesses... the quarry workers seemed to know better though.

BH04 Calcite, Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.0x 8.8x 9.3 cm

$585

A very beautiful cluster of terminated calcite crystals in a quartz-lined vug.  None of the crystals have any damage, and there are a number of small fluorite hemispheres sprinkled over the calcites.

This is a very dramatic piece, and it was one of the pieces that immediately caught my eye when I was doing a deal for a larger group of specimens.

The lack of damage can be attributed to the calcite crystals having been protected by their placement in a vug. Now that the "rough part" of the specimen's life is over (blasting, hammering sawing etc) the piece has been trimmed to leave the calcites well exposed.

BH05 Red Fluorite with Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.8x 5.8x 4.6 cm

$420

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystaline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  These have been coming out of India for some time now, however the red specimens are few and far between.  I had the fortune of being in India at about the same time that a new find of them was made.

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

Please note that this specimen has been oiled to improve its luster.

BH06 Orange Fluorite with Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.2x 6.2x 2.0 cm

$400

An unusual orange fluorite hemisphere on a quartz matrix.  I purchased fluorite specimens of several different colors this time ( red, green, white, yellow, gray) but this was one of two orange pieces (the other was posted in the previous Indian update.)

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH07 Calcite

Jalgaon, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.2x 5.5x 5.1 cm

$395

A really beautiful example of Indian calcite, with a single, complete, calcite crystal perched on the end of a heulandite stalactite.

Calcite ranks among the most common minerals in the world, but the Deccan Plateau, and the quarries around Jalgaon in particular, are some of the few places where formations like this can be found.

Unlike the scolecite above, pieces like this do not require extensive prep work.... just exceptional luck not to get shattered or even nicked during blasting.

BH08 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.4x 7.8x 3.6 cm

$420

This specimen is one of a few pieces from a recent pocket of exceptional fluorites.  Specimens from this pocket are notable for the apophyllite druze that coats the fluorite.

This pieces has a rather large and well formed 4 cm fluorite hemisphere on matrix.  I have seen hundreds of these fluorites, though in my opinion the apophyllite druze and size of the specimen make these stand out. There is a small contact on the top edge of the hemisphere, though it displays exactly as in the pictures.

BH09 Apophyllite

Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.1x 6.0x 3.1 cm

$200

A very bright green cube of apophyllite-(KF) on matrix.  These used to be called fluorapophyllite, but the nomenclature was changed...

The crystal is exceptionally bright green, and lacks the bluish hues that are usually present, and which lend to a darker green color.  This piece has yellowish undertones which make it seem brighter than the average. 

BH10 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.0x 7.4x 3.0  cm

$365

A white fluorite hemisphere on matrix from the Mahodari Quarry.   I purchased fluorite specimens of several different colors this time (red, green, orange, yellow, gray) but this was the only white one.

The ball is coated with a druze of tiny apophyllite crystals that give a sparkle to the otherwise nearly matte surface. 

BH11 Fluorite on Amethyst

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.9x 6.9x 2.2 cm

$390

This specimen is one of a few pieces from a recent pocket of exceptional fluorites.  Unlike other pieces from this find, the fluorite lacks the apophyllite druze.

The matrix is a light purple amethyst which contrasts nicely with the yellow fluorite, and the frosted appearance of the amethyst is the result of a second generation of microcrystalline quartz.  It would appear that this second generation of quartz crystallized before the fluorite.  On some of the above specimens from this pocket, an additional step occurred and apophyllite selectively crystallized on the surface of the fluorite.

BH13 Fluorite on Amethyst

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.5x 4.6x 2.5 cm

$185

This specimen is one of a few pieces from a recent pocket of exceptional fluorites.  Specimens from this pocket are notable for the apophyllite druze that coats the fluorite, and in some cases, the quartz matrix as well.

Please note that the top edge of the ball is flat.  This is most clearly visible in the last photograph, and is the result of the hemisphere being in contact with another hemisphere, which cleanly separated into another specimen.  This is not damage however; the hemisphere is entirely present to the extent that it naturally formed. 

This is the case with a couple other pieces, though not to the extent present on this one, and the price takes this (natural) defect into account.

BH14 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.3x 5.9x 2.0 cm

$235

A yellow fluorite hemisphere on a quartz matrix.  The hemisphere is entirely complete and shows better than average color and translucency.  It is also somewhat less flat (more spherical) than is usually the case. 

BH15 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.8x 8.8x 3.2 cm

$200

A large cabinet specimen with a complete fluorite hemisphere on a quartz-coated matrix.

BH16 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.9x 6.7x 2.6 cm

$185

A cabinet specimen with a complete fluorite hemisphere on a quartz-coated matrix.

BH17 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
13.7x 10.4x 4.0 cm

$350

An interesting cabinet specimen consisting of a single brown calcite rhomb and an apophyllite crystal  Both are on a quartz coated matrix that is colored blue by a thin layer of blue chalcedony that is present underneath the quartz.

BH18 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
12.0x 9.2x 8.9 cm

$180

I usually stay away from stilbite, but this one was interesting.  This specimen consists of a large stilbite bow with a light salmon color.  The stilbite is coated on one side with colorless apophyllite crystals, which give the stilbite the appearance of being framed when displayed from the front.

BH19 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.7x 7.5x 1.4 cm

$260

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH20 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.5x 6.6x 1.7 cm

$220

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH021 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
12.5x 9.0x 1.5 cm

$230

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH22 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.8x 3.5x 1.8 cm

$165

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH23 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.2x 4.6x 2.8 cm

$180

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH24 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.2x 3.5x 1.6 cm

$120

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

BH025 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
8.5x 5.0x 1.3 cm

$135

Fluorite from India is fairly unique, in that during its formation it seems to have cooled very rapidly, leaving no chance for good crystals to form.  The result are these globules of cryptocrystalline fluorite, usually over quartz or calcite.  

Usually Indian fluorite is yellow, the red/orange color is caused by minute hematite inclusions.  This color is quite unlike that of any other fluorite that I can think of—it lacks the pink hues of the Alpine material is somewhat orange, and certainly has a much more unusual form.

RESERVED

BH026 Calcite

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.9x 5.0x 6.0 cm

$250

This is a very unusual calcite.  Right-side-up is actually with the rhomb at the bottom, and the point (actually a termination) facing upwards.  

Personally, I like it better upside down, that way it looks like a mallet or oversized nail.

BH027 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.9x 5.8x 5.5 cm

$165

Two yellow fluorite hemispheres on a quartz matrix.  The hemispheres are entirely complete and show better than average color and translucency.  Many of the quartz crystals inside the vug have somehow been sheared-- I dont know how it happened, but the price takes this into account.  The fluorites are perfect however.

BH028 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
5.3x 3.7x 2.6 cm

$80

A yellow fluorite ball on a quartz-lined matrix.  The black basalt underneath the quartz gives the translucent quartz and the fluorite a darker color.

BH029 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
6.7x 4.6x 2.2 cm

$145

Two fluorite hemispheres on a quartz-coated matrix, the larger one is complete, but the hemisphere on the edge is broken.  The price takes this into account, and the main hemisphere is still a pretty decent size.

BH030 Calcite on Chalcedony, Gyrolite

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.7x 9.6x 5.1 cm

$175

An interesting specimen of calcite on stalactitic chalcedony, over which many tiny gyrolite balls  (<1 mm) have formed. It appears that the calcite was etched prior to the gyrolite formation, giving it a strange, shriveled and dehydrated appearance...

BH031 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
4.0x 3.5x 2.9 cm

$75

An interesting miniature, with a double terminated apophyllite crystal perched on a brown calcite "stem."  No damage.

BH032 Calcite

Dahisar Sakinaka, Mumbai Area, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.5x 6.8x 5.7 cm

$185

A geode containing a number of of brown calcite rhombs, from a new find near Mumbai.  I saw a few of these in Tucson this year (priced more expensively), so the find is probably around 1 year old.

The Indian dealers have been calling these "mica."  On  this specimen, the calcite rhombs are rather thick, but on others, the calcite exists as very thin sheets of rhombs, hence the "mica" description.

BH035 Calcite

Dahisar Sakinaka, Mumbai Area, Maharashtra Prov., India
10.5x 6.2x 6.5 cm

$135

A geode containing a brown calcite rhomb, from a new find near Mumbai.  I saw a few of these in Tucson this year, so the find is probably around 1 year old.

The Indian dealers have been calling these "mica."  On  this specimen, the calcite rhombs are rather thick, but on others, the calcite exists as very thin sheets of rhombs, hence the "mica" description.

BH033 Calcite

Dahisar Sakinaka, Mumbai Area, Maharashtra Prov., India
7.5x 5.5x 5.7 cm

$200

A geode containing a number of of brown calcite rhombs, from a new find near Mumbai.  I saw a few of these in Tucson this year, so the find is probably around 1 year old.

This is the best example of the material I brought back.

The Indian dealers have been calling these "mica."  On  this specimen, the calcite rhombs are rather thick, but on others, the calcite exists as very thin sheets of rhombs, hence the "mica" description.

BH034 Calcite

Dahisar Sakinaka, Mumbai Area, Maharashtra Prov., India
5.5x 5.1x 4.1 cm

$165

A geode containing a number of of brown calcite rhombs, from a new find near Mumbai.  I saw a few of these in Tucson this year, so the find is probably around 1 year old.

The Indian dealers have been calling these "mica."  The sheets of calcite are thin enough on this specimen to see why...