Merelani Minerals

A collection of Merelani minerals uncommon for the locality or with unusual associations (plus one Tanzanian Spessartine) that I have put together over the past couple years and releasing now for the first time. 


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AF468 - Stilbite on Tanzanite $ 440 (=~ £ 352) SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
thumbnail - 2.5 x 1.2 x 0.6 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Stilbite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af468a.jpg] Stilbite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af468b.jpg] Stilbite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af468c.jpg]

Single, gemmy blue Tanzanite crystal with the backside covered by Stilbite crystals (analyzed), the only such association I have yet seen from Merelani.The Tanzanite is richly colored and gemmy. A unique Tanzanite thumbnail for sure.

AF720 - Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite $ 1600 (=~ £ 1279) SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af720.jpg] Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af720a.jpg] Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af720b.jpg] Allanite-(Ce) on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af720c.jpg]

A real rarity and the only such association I am aware of, a gem quality Tanzanite crystal with an attached 5mm Allanite-(Ce) (analyzed) near the termination. Aside from the unusual association, the Tanzanite itself is spectacular, being 100% gem quality, like purple glass, with good luster and though not large, is a thick crystal. A truely unique Tanzanite thumbnail. 19 carats of gem Tanzanite.

AF723 - Kyanite $ 350 (=~ £ 280) SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
miniature - 3.2 x 1.0 x 1 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Kyanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af723a.jpg] Kyanite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af723b.jpg]

Like many other minerals, species that are just OK elsewhere can be spectacular at Merelani. This is the first and only Kyanite I've seen from Merelani, and the color is spectacular, an intense blue, and very transparent.

AF724 - Wurtzite $ 400 (=~ £ 320) SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
thumbnail - 1.9 x 1.7 x 0.6 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Wurtzite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af724.jpg] Wurtzite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af724a.jpg] Wurtzite from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af724b.jpg]

Euhedral single crystal, one of only a very few I've seen from Merelani, that lights up a bright red orange when backlit.

AF726 - Calcite on Diopside $ 300 (=~ £ 240) SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania
miniature - 3.8 x 3.5 x 1.8 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Calcite on Diopside from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af726a.jpg] Calcite on Diopside from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af726b.jpg] Calcite on Diopside from Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af726c.jpg]

White Calcite crystals (analyzed) on a cluster of bright green Diopside. The Calcite are pearlescent and platy in form, the Diopside a bright green color with gem zones and some attached Graphite on the backside.

AF727 - Spessartine on Mica, Quartz $ 450 (=~ £ 360) SOLD
 Nani, Loliondo, Arusha Region, Tanzania
small cabinet - 5.2 x 5 x 2.5 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Spessartine on Mica, Quartz from Nani, Loliondo, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af727a.jpg] Spessartine on Mica, Quartz from Nani, Loliondo, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af727b.jpg] Spessartine on Mica, Quartz from Nani, Loliondo, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/af727c.jpg]

This is a specimen I held back for years from the original find, the only one I saw that occurred on this pink Quartz and Mica matrix. The garnets reach 1.4cm and are well distributed across the specimen. A colorful and unique specimen from this occurrence.

T22 - Huelandite on Tanzanite SOLD
 Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania
miniature - 4 x 4 x 3 cm


(click on an image to enlarge)

Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22a.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22b.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22c.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22d.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22e.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22f.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22h.jpg] Huelandite on Tanzanite from Merelani Hills, Arusha Region, Tanzania [db_pics/pics/t22g.jpg]

Large Tanzanite crystal with jagged termination, rehealed on the bottom, with lots of associated minerals. Attached at the base is a cluster of pearly brown crystals of Huelandite. The Huelandite cluster is over Diopside and Pyrite and is associated with white needle-like crystals of Tremolite. There is a small blue Apatite on the Huelandite. Small Pyrite crystals are attached to the rehealed base. This specimen has lots of mineralogical interest and appeal. Illustrated in the Sept.-Oct. 2009 issue of the Mineralogical Record (Figure 72, page 381). A very interesting, good sized crystal, 4 x 4 x 3 cm.

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