Minerals of Merelani — Marin Mineral

Minerals of Merelani
May 29, 2013 · 15 specimens

TZ120 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2.1 x 1.2 x 0.8 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Exquisite gem crystal. Undamaged with great luster and transparency. This is a really fine crystal and well priced for the degree of quality, even has a phantom. Natural, unheated gem crystal.

TZ121 - Diopside on Graphite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Vivid green Diopside crystals on crystallized Graphite. Individual Graphite crystals reach about 5-6mm. These Diopside on Graphite crystals are exceptional specimens only seen previously from the December 2007 pocket of the Karo Pit - it is possible that this one is also from that find but has only now made its way to market.

TZ122 - Tsavorite with Diopside sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2 x 2 x 1.4 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Fine thumbnail specimen of pale green to white Diopside crystal with an attached Tsavorite. The Diopside has a stepped termination and great luster and a color unlike any I've ever seen from Merelani. The Tsavorite has the top green color. Fine and unusual, if your looking for a special thumbnail this is it.

TZ123 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.4 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Exquisite gem crystal, undamaged and unheated with great luster and transparency. Superb quality here, and a real winner of a specimen. 55 carats of nearly 100% facet grade Tanzanite. Great crystal.

TZ125 - Magnesio-axinite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.6 x 0.4 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Gemmy purple crystal, undamaged except along the bottom where it was attached to the matrix. Good color and uncommonly good in terms of lack of damage.

TZ127 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Miniature - 4 x 1.5 x 0.4 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Etched Tanzanite crystal with a flattened, tabular form. Etched Tanzanites are not common and this one has such an unususal shape, reminds me of Halloween for some reason. Natural, unheated, and undamaged.

TZ130 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Small Cabinet - 5.2 x 3.5 x 2 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Tanzanite crystal cluster with a 5cm tall central crystal and 4cm tall crystal attached to the back and smaller crystals at the base. Natural, unheated, and undamaged. The white spot seen on the face of the main crystal is a crystal of Prehnite and is not damage.

TZ131 - Diopside with Graphite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2.5 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Sharply formed crystal with good luster and highly transparent. With attached Graphite on backside. More transparent than typical Diopsides from here.

TZ132 - Tanzanite with Diopside sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2.5 x 1.9 x 1.8 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Tanzanite crystals on Diopside. The two main crystals are crossing and largest is double-terminated. There are also many other small terminated Tanzanites present. Good thumbnail.

TZ133 - Tsavorite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 1.2 x 0.9 x 0.9 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

This is a rare nearly perfect and complete Tsavorite crystal. Tsavorite typically form on graphite and almost always have a contact on the bottom where they were attached to the Graphite. This one grew atop the thin edges of Graphite crystals. Although there are some dark colored grooves on the bottom surface caused by the Graphite crystals, it is fully crystallized all around. Under a loupe I found a couple tiny nicks on the bottom, otherwise it is undamaged and of exceptional quality, and it has great color.

TZ134 - Grossular sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Rare yellow Grossular - the only one I've ever seen from Merelani. A complete and glassy crystal that is totally transparent. There are a couple tiny chips on adjacent corners, otherwise perfect.

TZ135 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.5 x 1.2 x 1.1 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Fine quality Tanzanite crystal that is complete all around with good gem zones. Trichroic with blue and purple coloration from the sides and a good red color up the C-axis. Natural, unheated, and with hardly any damage (just a couple very tiny edge nicks). A good value for the price. I backlit one photo for fun.

TZ136 - Chabazite on Prehnite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Miniature - 3.2 x 2 x 2 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Translucent yellow Prehnite sprinkled with small brown crystals of Chabazite. This is the finest quality yellow Prehnite specimen I've seen from Merelani. A bit of Tanzanite attached to the bottom too.

TZ137 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2 x 0.8 x 0.7 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Single Tanzanite crystal with a good, uniform shape. Trichroic with blue and purple coloration from the sides and a good red color up the C-axis. Natural, unheated, and undamaged.

TZ139 - Tanzanite sold

Merelani Hills, Arusha, Tanzania
Thumbnail - 2 x 1 x 0.7 cm

(click on an image to enlarge)

Single Tanzanite crystal with a good color and gemminess. Trichroic with blue and purple coloration from the sides and a light red color up the C-axis. Natural, unheated gem crystal.

« All updates