Updated November 30th, 2008

	Beryl var Emerald Specimen #Russia01 Tokovaya Ekaterinburg Oblast Central Urals Russia 3.8 x 3.0 x 2.4cm Miniature Ex H. Westenberger Collection $150 Here's a specimen that dates back to the days of the Soviet Union from an area formerly known as Sverdlovsk.  It's comprised of a solid conglomerated mass of singly terminated beryl var. emerald xls (some incomplete), partially coated by muscovite xls.  The xls range in color from a pale to a darker, more emerald like green.  An interesting and attractive specimen from my "Mother Country"!  Comes with an older, hand written collection card.

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	Charoite Specimen #Russia02 Murun Siberia Russia 18.9 x 8.7 x 3.0cm Large Cabinet Mildly Fluorescent Type Locality $145 Charoite gets its name from the river Chara, in Siberia. Charoite is an unusual mineral of rare occurrence and is found to date in only this one location. It formed from alteration of limestone by the close presence of an alkali-rich nephline syenite intrusion. The heat, pressure and more importantly, the infusion of unique chemicals into the rock are responsible for the transformations into new minerals such as charoite. Why charoite has not been found in other locations is not fully understood. But it is probably due to a combination of a chemically unique limestone reacting with a chemically unique intrusion and subjected to unique physical conditions. This is a sawn and polished (one side) piece of charoite that I picked up from Russian dealer Gennady Skublov in Denver. Besides charoite, it contains steacyite, tinaksite and titanite. It is mildly fluorescent under SW UV light. No damage. Please note:  This specimen represents the largest single slab of Charoite that I have ever been able to purchase.

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	Native Copper on Matrix Specimen #Russia03 Itauz Mine Dzezkazgan Oblast Kazakhstan 3.5 x 3.3 x 1.3cm Miniature $45 Here's another specimen that dates back to the days of the Soviet Union; coming from Kazakhstan.    It's comprised of a dendritic mass of cubo octahedral copper xls on matrix.  When was the last time you saw a nice copper specimen on matrix?  No damage.

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	Crocoite and Pyromorphite Specimen #Russia04 Berezoeff Ekaterinburg Oblast Central Urals Russia 7.8 x 4.8 x 1.4cm Small Cabinet $75 Here's a combination of mineral specimens that you don't come across every day.  This piece is comprised of matrix that is coated by micro crocoite and pyromorphite xls.  The largest xl is crocoite and is 5mm in length.  An unusual specimen!

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	Dioptase Specimen #Russia05 Altyn-Tube deposit Kirghiz Steppes Karaganda Oblast Kazakhstan 5.9 x 5.7 x 2.8cm Small Cabinet Mildly Fluorescent $75 Here's a specimen that is comprised of matrix that is covered by water clear calcite xls and emerald green dioptase xls to 6mm.  There are a few edge dings to the dioptase xls, but they are only visible under magnification.  Otherwise the dioptase xls are very gemmy and completely intact.  The calcite fluoresces a pale red color when exposed to SW UV light.