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S001
Labradorite sphere
(Madagascar)
Originally named after Labrador,
Newfoundland where is was first
discovered, this is an unusually
large specimen exhibiting a
striking blue flash across its
surface. The colourful play of
light is called "labradorescence"
and is caused by refraction of
light within the stone's
surface.
Weight:
23KG
Width:
25.5cm |
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S002
A rare sea or ocean jasper
sphere
on a turned marble socle
(Madagascar)
This is a variety of quartz or
silicon dioxide that is only
found in Madagascar. It is
quarried at low tide from the
sea floor and thus has earned
its name. The name jasper is
derived from the Greek and means
'spotted stone'.
Weight:
10.4KG
Width:
19cm |
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S003
Yellow Ocean Jasper Sphere
(Madagascar)
Presented on
a turned black marble plinth base.
As above, it is quarried at low tide from
the sea floor and thus has earned its name.
The name jasper is derived from the Greek
and means 'spotted stone'.
Weight:
28.7KG
Width:
29.2cm |
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S004
Chrysocolla sphere
(Peru)
Sometimes called the 'earth
stone' because of its
terrestrial appearance, this is
an excellent example of this
copper-based mineral.
Weight:
4.5KG
Width:
13cm |
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S005
Fossil wood sphere
(Madagascar)
Cretaceous, approx 135 million
years old. This is an ancient
tree trunk that has been turned
to stone. Over millennia, each
cell has been replaced by quartz
to produce a copy of the
original. Petrification occurs
where the trees after death, are
covered by fine-grained
sediments. Circulating waters
loosen the organic substances
and replace them with mineral
substances.
Weight:
22.1KG
Width:
25.5cm |
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S006
An unusually large agate
and amethyst sphere
on a turned marble socle
(Brazil)
This is a combination of
bluish agate and amethyst.
Both are forms of quartz or
silicon dioxide. This sphere
has been cut from an agate
nodule which formed in a
volcanic environment,
crystallising out of
solution. The purple colour
of amethyst is due to the
presence of iron and
manganese.
Weight:
6.7KG
Width:
17.8cm |
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S007
A huge and wonderful amethyst
sphere
(Brazil)
Weight:
18KG
Width:
22.5cm |
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S008
A large and rare chrysocolla
sphere
(Arizona, USA)
The name chrysocolla was first
used by Theophrastus in 315BC
and comes from the Greek
chrysos, meaning "gold" and
kolla meaning "glue", in
allusion to the material used to
solder gold. It is typically
found as vein fillings which
explains the patterns seen in
this exceptionally large sphere.
Weight:
14.1KG
Width:
23cm |
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S009
A large tiger iron sphere
(Australia)
Composed of black hematite, red
jasper and golden tiger-eye,
this rock is between two and
three billion years old. It is
of sedimentary origin, laid down
layer by layer. Over time it has
been subjected to great pressure
and tremendous heat resulting in
the dramatic folds seen in this
example.
Weight:
15.4KG
Width:
19cm |
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S010
A rare orbicular jasper
(ocean jasper) sphere
(Madagascar)
Madagascar is the sole source
for sea jasper, which is mined
from a beach environment. The
name jasper is derived from
Greek, meaning "spotted stone".
Weight:
9.7KG
Width:
18cm |
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S011
A picture sandstone sphere
(Utah, USA)
This rock was deposited as a
wind-blown sediment resulting in
the intriguing patterns and
formations.
Weight:
9.9KG
Width:
20cm |
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S012
Polished Lapis Lazuli
sphere (Afghanistan)
Lapis is a gemstone straight
out of the fairy tale
Arabian Nights. It was first
introduced to Europe by
Alexander the Great, where
the colour was called
"ultramarine" meaning "from
beyond the seas". Its modern
name is a combination of
lapis, the Latin word
for "stone", and the Arabian
word azuli, denoting
the colour.
Weight:
2.69KG
Width:
11cm |
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S013
Polished Lapis Lazuli sphere
(Afghanistan)
Lapis lazuli is in fact a
rock, containing several
minerals. Its quality and
value is determined by the
colour and abundance of the
blue mineral lazurite. Other
minerals occurring in lapis
lazuli include hauyne,
sodalite, wollastonite,
pyroxenes, amphiboles and
calcite. Traces of pyrite
pepper the rock with an
unmistakable, golden-yellow
or silver sparkle.
Weight:
4.02KG
Width:
13cm |
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S014
Polished Lapis Lazuli sphere
(Afghanistan)
As lapis lazuli (arabic-latin blue stone) is
composed of several minerals - if only in small
quantities (augite, calcite, diopside, mica,
hauynite, hornblende, pyrite) - some experts
consider it not to be a mineral, but a rock; the
main ingredient being lazurite.
Weight:
3.97KG
Width:
13cm |
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S015
Septaria sphere
(France?)
Septarians were formed during
Cretaceous period about 65
million years ago. Decomposing
sealife killed by volcanic
eruptions had a chemical
attraction for the sediment
around them, forming mud balls.
As the ocean receded, the balls
were left dry and crack.
Decomposing calcite from
sea-shells was carried down into
the cracks in the balls forming
calcite crystals. These are the
dark brown crystals lining the
cavity - here they are
Aragonite, a form of calcite.
Weight:
6.2KG
Width:
16cm |
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S0167Ocean
Jasper sphere
(Madagascar)
Jasper is an ornamental rock
composed mostly of chalcedony or
microcrystalline quartz, in
association with other minerals
its colourful bands and
patterns create a planetary
aesthetic. Jasper was a
favourite gem in the ancient
world and can be traced back in
Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek
and Latin cultures . The name is
derived from the Greek and means
'spotted stone'.
Weight:
6.5KG
Width:
16.5cm |
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S017
Petrified wood sphere
(Madagascar)
Top quality petrified wood
sphere with excellent colour and
banding patterns.
Weight:
1.62KG
Width:
10cm |
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S018
Beautiful agate and amethyst
sphere (Brazil)
This is a combination of
bluish agate and amethyst.
Both are forms of quartz or
silicon dioxide. This sphere
has been cut from an agate
nodule which formed in a
volcanic environment,
crystallising out of
solution. The purple colour
of amethyst is due to the
presence of iron and
manganese.
Weight:
3.17KG
Width:
13cm |
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S019
Amethyst sphere
(Brazil)
Amethyst is a form of quartz which
is formed in basalt lava flows and
lines cavities within the rock. The
purple colour is due to the presence
of iron and manganese. Brazil is the
commonest source. The name means
'not drunken' (Greek) as amethyst
was worn as an amulet against
insobriety.
Weight:
1.33KG
Width:
10cm |
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S020
Amethyst sphere
(Brazil)
Stunning example of this mineral
displaying an impressive colour
and brilliance with an
outstanding natural 'rainbow'
inclusion.
Weight:
0.83KG
Width:
7.5cm |
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S021
Amethyst sphere
(Brazil)
Amethyst is a member of the
quartz family and considered a
master healer. Amethyst is
believed to be extremely
soothing, especially good for
physic and spiritual
development.
Weight:
0.75KG
Width:
7.5cm |
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S022
A stunning Citrine sphere
(Brazil)
Citrine is a form of yellow quartz
prized for its colour and cutability
as a gemstone. In Victorian times it
was known as the 'Merchants Stone'
and was thought to attract financial
abundance into one's life. For this
reason small pieces were carried in
purses and wallets as a talisman for
good fortune. From a Feng Shui
perspective, citrine can be placed
in the wealth corner of a room or
house to help attract abundance.
Weight:
1.49KG
Width:
10cm |
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S023
Quartz crystal sphere
(Brazil)
The name 'quartz' comes from the
Greek for ice as it was believed
that rock crystal was eternally
frozen. Quartz is silicon
dioxide from which glass and
microchips are made. Great skill
is required to manually carve
these pieces from rough blocks
of quartz and to reveal the
inner beauty of the crystal.
Weight:
2.3KG
Width:
11.5cm |
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S024
Fine Quartz sphere
(Brazil)
An excellent example of a rock
crystal sphere with an
outstanding natural 'rainbow'
inclusion.
Weight:
2.45KG
Width:
12cm |
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S025
Large Quartz sphere
(Brazil)
Ice-white sphere with many
rainbow inclusions.
Spheres above 30kg of this
quality are an order of
magnitude rarer than those below
this size. Much larger blocks of
rough quartz are required to cut
these crystals and these are
less often discovered during
mining. An important example.
Weight:
38KG
Width:
27cm |
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S026
Quartz crystal sphere
(Brazil)
The name 'quartz' comes from the
Greek for ice as it was believed
that rock crystal was eternally
frozen. Quartz is silicon
dioxide from which glass and
microchips are made. Quartz
spheres are fashioned from large
natural crystals or big
irregular blocks of quartz .
Great skill is required to
manually fashion and polish
these spheres from the rough
block of quartz ,which is up to
4 times the size of the finished
sphere, thus revealing the
optimum inner beauty of the
crystal.
Weight:
1.86KG
Width:
11cm |
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S027
Quartz crystal sphere
(Brazil)
The name 'quartz' is originally thought to
come from the Greek word 'krustallos'
meaning 'ice' because it was thought that
quartz was ice formed by the gods.
Pliny the Elder supported this idea by
saying that quartz is found near glaciers in
the Alps and that large quartz crystals were
fashioned into spheres and used to cool the
hands. Since the Middle Ages, crystal balls
made of quartz have been used to predict the
future.
Weight:
2.15KG
Width:
11.5cm |
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S028
Orange Calcite sphere
(Mexico)
Bring home a bright sunny day
with this gorgeous Orange
Calcite Sphere from Mexico.
Calcite crystals are highly
bi-reflective, that means light
is reflected in two different
directions. This property gives
Calcite a semi-translucent sheen
with sparkling reflections.
Weight:
10KG
Width:
18cm |
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S029
Craspedodiscus Ammonite
sphere
(Russia)
This is a very large and rare
specimen cut and polished from a
huge Craspedodiscus ammonite
found in Hauterivian sediments
in Ulyanovsk, Russia. This well
preserved specimen is filled up
by a vibrant yellow orange
Calcite, the dark grey/black
material is Aragonite
which also contains fragments of
shell and borders of golden
Pyrite
Weight:
9.1KG
Width:
16cm |
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S030
Craspedodiscus Ammonite
sphere
(Russia)
In this
example, ammonite has been cut
into a sphere to reveal the
internal structure and beauty of
the
Ammonite.
Weight:
1.6KG
Width:
10cm |
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S031
Ocean Jasper sphere
(Madagascar)
Jasper is an ornamental rock
composed mostly of chalcedony or
microcrystalline quartz, in
association with other minerals
colourful bands and patterns
result which create a planetary
aesthetic. Jasper was a
favourite gem in the ancient
world and can be traced back in
Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek
and Latin cultures. The name is
derived from the Greek and means
'spotted stone'.
Weight:
3.18KG
Width:
13.5cm |
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S032
Chrysocholla sphere
(Peru)
Sometimes called the 'earth
stone' because of its
terrestrial appearance, this is
an excellent example of this
copper-based mineral.
Weight:
10.4KG
Width:
19cm |
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S033
Chrysacolla sphere
(USA)
Chrysocolla crystals are usually
intergrown with quartz and opal.
It has a bright bluish green
appearance with occasional
copper patches. Chrysocolla is
said to eliminate negativity in
the home or environment as well
as having healing properties.
Weight:
1.86KG
Width:
12cm |
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S034
Kambaba Jasper sphere
(Madagascar)
Jasper is an opaque variety of
Chalcedony, which is a variety
of microcrystalline fibrous
Quartz. The colour is due to
minute quantities of various
elements; and Jaspers are in
every colour and variation.
Kambaba Jasper is distinguished
by it's green and black
colouration. It is an excellent
protection stone, providing
protection for both
terrestrial and astral
travellers.
Weight:
5.4KG
Width:
16cm |
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S035
Astrophyllite sphere
(Russia)
Astrophyllite is a rare titanium
mineral found in some unusual
granites and syenites. It
produces a variable luster that
can be nearly metallic in one
specimen to vitreous in another.
Its name translated means star
sheets and probably is in
allusion to the intergrown star
like aggregates that it can
form.
Weight:
0.49KG
Width:
6cm |
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S036 Ocean
Jasper sphere
(Madagascar)
Jasper is an ornamental rock
composed mostly of chalcedony or
microcrystalline quartz, in
association with other minerals
its colourful bands and
patterns create a planetary
aesthetic. Jasper was a
favourite gem in the ancient
world and can be traced back in
Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek
and Latin cultures . The name is
derived from the Greek and means
'spotted stone'.
Weight:
3.6KG
Width:
14cm |
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S037
Fine petrified wood sphere
(Madagascar)
Petrified wood (from the Greek
root "petro" meaning "rock" or
"stone", literally "wood turned
into stone") is a type of
fossil:
it consists of
fossil wood
where all the
organic materials
have been replaced with
minerals
(most often a
silicate,
such as
quartz),
while retaining the original
structure of the wood. The
petrifaction
process occurs underground, when
wood becomes buried under
sediment
and is initially preserved due
to a lack of
oxygen.
Weight:
1.94KG
Width:
11cm |
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S038
A large and rare fossil wood
sphere
(Arizona, USA)
This petrified wood was formed
approximately 225 million years
ago during the Triassic period.
When southern volcanic mountains
erupted, the trees toppled and
were swept into waterways.
Streams deposited the logs into
marshes where they were covered
with mud containing volcanic
ash.
Weight:
40KG
Width:
28cm |
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S039
A large and rare fossil wood
sphere
(Arizona, USA)
11
Petrification began when
chemicals were released during
decomposition. As water
saturated the log, these
chemicals reacted with the wood
and formed quartz crystals. By
itself quartz is colourless but
the colours result from the
presence of trace elements.
Copper, cobalt and chromium give
the blues and greens, manganese
the pinks and oxides of iron
provide the reds and yellows.
Over time, the process converts
the entire log into stone. It is
four time as hard as granite and
is similar to agate in
composition and appearance.
1
Weight:
40KG
Width:
28cm |
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S040
Ocean Jasper sphere
(Madagascar)
Jasper is an ornamental rock
composed mostly of chalcedony or
microcrystalline quartz, in
association with other minerals
its colourful bands and
patterns create a planetary
aesthetic. Jasper was a
favourite gem in the ancient
world and can be traced back in
Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek
and Latin cultures . The name is
derived from the Greek and means
'spotted stone'.
Weight:
6.4KG
Width:
18cm |
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