Madagascar!
I visited Madagascar again in November/ December of 2017, and my shipment of specimens finally arrived last week. Madagascar has always been a place that never changes-- the same food vendors in the same spots, the same employees at the same businesses, even the same beggars on the same corners. However, the mineral market has started to shift-- mineral collectors and gem merchants are picky bunch-- one chip or fracture, and a miner's two weeks of digging can become worthless. As the Chinese demand for industrial material (rose quartz, massive jasper, etc) grows, more and more workers are shifting their efforts to the relatively stable pay provided by mining those materials. Security has also gotten a bit worse-- I was cautioned by friends about the new dangers around some of the mining areas, and just shrugged it off. Then one morning en route to one of the usual villages, we came across someone who merely hours before had been shot, had his hands amputated, and dumped mere feet from the roadside-- apparently the bandits, or dahalo who begun decades earlier as cattle rustlers in the vast, lawless expanses of the country's south had morphed into a network of well-armed criminals and started to move north. This unfortunate man was just the latest victim of their increasing violence, and due to increased fears over such incidents, production has declined. But, it isn't all bleak-- despite the decreased production, after several trips to the country, I was able to turn to various friends and contacts to chase down specimens, and by venturing further away from the beaten path, I ended up bringing back more material than on any previous trip. The following are some of my favorites.
List
Grid
18MA01 Andradite Garnet var Demantoid
Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar
13.7x 4.5x 5.5 cm
$1850
18MA02 Quartz (Japan Law Twin)
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
8.3x 8.1x 2.1 cm
18MA03 Fluorite
Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
8.4x 7.2x 4.9 cm
$485
18MA04 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
3.8x 3.2x 1.4 cm
18MA05 Beryl var. Aquamarine
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
5.4x 1.8x 1.8 cm
$700
18MA07 Hambergite
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
4.9x 1.4x 0.8 cm
RESERVED
18MA08 Liddicoatite Tourmaline with Quartz
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
4.0x 1.2x 0.45 cm
18MA09 Phenacite
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
4.4x 1.1x 1.05 cm
18MA10 Phenacite
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
3.6x 0.9x 0.9 cm
18MA11 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Manapa pegmatite Field, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
4.2x 4.1x 3.2 cm
18MA12 Andradite Garnet var Demantoid
Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar
5.8x 5.6x 3.3 cm
$600
18MA13 Andradite Garnet var Demantoid
Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar
6.7x 6.1x 3.8 cm
$680
18MA14 Andradite Garnet var Demantoid
Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar
6.6x 4.7x 4.8 cm
$495
18MA15 Andradite Garnet var Demantoid
Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar
5.8x 3.6x 2.8 cm
$395
18MA16 Barite
Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
6.0x 4.9x 2.8 cm
$200
18MA17 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
5.4x 1.1x 1.05 cm
$495
18MA18 Monazite
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
7.0x 4.2x 2.8 cm
18MA19 Fluorite
Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
6.0x 4.2x 3.8 cm
$195
18MA20 Quartz var. Amethyst
Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
6.7x 2.9x 2.3 cm
$175
18MA21 Topaz
Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
4.5x 4.2x 2.5 cm
$525
18MA22 Topaz
Vakinankaratra Region, Central Madagascar
5.1x 4.7x 3.0 cm
$400
18MA23 Topaz
Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
4.1x 2.8x 1.8 cm
$135
18MA24 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Manapa pegmatite Field, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
5.0x 2.7x 1.9 cm
$485
18MA25 Zircon
Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
5.3x 3.2x 1.4 cm
$400
18MA26 Zircon var. Malacon
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
9.x 8.5x 5.1 cm
$800
18MA27 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
9.0x 4.0x 3.6 cm
$485
18MA28 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Manapa pegmatite Field, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
6.6x 3.5x 3.6 cm
$565
18MA29 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
4.0x 2.0x 1.4 cm
$600
18MA30 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
2.1x 2.0x 1.8 cm
18MA31 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
2.9x 0.85x 0.35 cm
$430
18MA32 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
2.0x 1.6x 0.6 cm
$275
18MA33 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
2.1x 1.5x 0.8 cm
18MA34 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
1.8x 1.3x 1.1 cm
$185
18MA35 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
3.2x 2.1x 0.75 cm
$335
18MA36 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
2.7x 2.1x 1.3 cm
$375
18MA37 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
3.3x 2.3x 1.4 cm
$265
18MA38 Grandidierite
Tranomaro Commune, Amboasary District, Anosy Region, Tuléar Province, Madagascar
4.5x 1.4x 1.3 cm
$465
18MA39 Hambergite
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.5x 1.75x 0.3 cm
$300
18MA40 Quartz incl. Actinolite
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
10.5x 2.4x 2.3 cm
18MA41 Quartz var. Amethyst
Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
4.8x 4.6x 3.3 cm
$125
18MA42 Columbite
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
4.7x 2.0x 2.2 cm
18MA43 Monazite
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.7x 3.0x 1.35
18MA44 Zircon var. Malacon
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.4x 3.1x 1.6 cm
$95
18MA45 Zircon var. Malacon
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.6x 2.2x 2.0 cm
$85
18MA46 Zircon var. Malacon
Ambatofotsikely pegmatite, Fidirana Commune, Betafo Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.5x 2.0x 1.7 cm
$85
18MA47 Garnet
Ialamitana, Antsirabe 2 District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
5.5x 4.0x 4.4 cm
18MA48 Garnet
Ialamitana, Antsirabe 2 District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
4.0x 3.1x 2.3 cm
$85
18MA49 Columbite
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
5.4x 3.5x 3.0 cm
RESERVED
18MA50 Struverite
Ialamitana, Antsirabe 2 District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.3x 2.5x 1.6 cm
18MA51 Quartz var. Amethyst
Alaotra-Mangoro Region, Toamasina Prov., Madagascar
4.2x 2.4x 2.2 cm
18MA52 Apatite
Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Madagascar
2.9x 2.6x 1.7 cm
$85
RESERVED
18MA53 Manandonite
Antandrokomby pegmatite, Manandona Valley, Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
5.6x 3.5x 3.7 cm
RESERVED
18MA54 Manandonite
Antandrokomby pegmatite, Manandona Valley, Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
4.8x 3.3x 3.4 cm
18MA55 Quartz incl. Iron Oxide
Mahaiza Area, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
12.5x 7.6x 3.4 cm
$275
18MA56 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.1x 2.5x 1.8 cm
$145
18MA57 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
10.1x 6.8x 6.5 cm
$450
18MA58 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
7.8x 6.2x 4.9 cm
$395
18MA59 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
3.5x 1.0x 0.6 cm
$185
18MA60 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.1x 1.8x 1.8 cm
$185
18MA61 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.2x 1.9x 2.05 cm
$170
18MA62 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.8x 1.9x 1.4 cm
$195
18MA63 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.9x 1.1x 1.0 cm
$185
18MA65 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
2.1x 1.0x 0.9 cm
18MA69 Hambergite
Mt. Ibity, Antsirabe 2 Dist., Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.0x 1.6x 0.6 cm
$165
18MA70 Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Anjanabonoina pegmatites, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascara
1.16x 0.84x 0.59 cm
$395