Fine Minerals International

Fine Minerals International Fine Minerals International The duo owns mines and sources minerals from destinations around the globe including Brazil, China, Pakistan, Tanzania and Colombia.
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After 20 years of sourcing and selling beautiful, top quality minerals, Fine Minerals International owners Daniel Trinchillo and Marisa Chung have become highly regarded as the most experienced pair in the international mineral market. With reputations built on passion and personal relationships with top collectors, they maintain the highest standards for quality and honesty. Access to this one-of

-a-kind collection has previously only been available to elite private collectors. Daniel and Marisa now bring their international expertise to New York where buyers will have the opportunity to educate themselves on the background, aesthetic appeal, and value of minerals. Amethyst, Quartz, Tourmaline and Aquamarine are just some of the many minerals on display for those interested in using minerals as artistic expression. We are excited to share the awe and beauty of nature’s art.

05/04/2026

ID #: 01031, Hematite & Magnesite [NFS - SOLD]
N'Chwaning Mines, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa


While more vividly colored minerals often dominate attention, fine hematite of this caliber ranks among the most competitive specimens, prized among collectors for its commanding presence, mirror-like luster, and precise crystallization.

This piece is defined by two prominent, large twinned crystals, perfectly oriented so that their sharp morphology can be fully appreciated. Their tabular form is not just atypical for the species but notably refined, with sharp edges and lustrous faces that reflect light with striking intensity. The hematite is accented by a delicate drusy coating of minute garnet crystals, which introduce a subtle, colorful, shimmering complement to the dark, gunmetal crystals. In contrast, small colorless calcite and magnesite crystals accent and enrich the surface with their texture and tone.

Long pursued and ultimately secured after more than a decade of admiration, it was held for about a decade in Daniel's personal collection. It is his all-time favorite example of the species. In both aesthetic presence and condition, it is a flawless and outstanding example of its kind.

H: 8.2 cm W: 9.5 cm D: 7 cm Wt: 900 g

ID #: 26168, Amethyst Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg Area, Erongo Region, Namibia Fine amethyst from the Brandberg area ...
04/28/2026

ID #: 26168, Amethyst
Goboboseb Mountains, Brandberg Area, Erongo Region, Namibia

Fine amethyst from the Brandberg area of Namibia is known for its distinct character, instantly recognizable for its tendency to form as individual, elongated, sharply defined crystals with strong color, vitreous luster, and good clarity. The best examples exhibit vivid purple tones, often paired with areas of colorlessness and/or smoky color that add contrast and depth. When lit, they take on a romantic, mystical quality all their own.

This example is well balanced, with a sharp prismatic form and a gemlike quality. The color is richly saturated, blending violets and deeper purples in a fluid, almost painterly way. It is a lovely example of Goboboseb amethyst that reflects the locality’s characteristic color and form.

H: 12.5 cm W: 5 cm D: 4 cm Wt: 360 g

ID #: 16224, Sphalerite & Quartz2nd Sovetskiy Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Reg., RussiaThis remarkabl...
04/13/2026

ID #: 16224, Sphalerite & Quartz
2nd Sovetskiy Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Far-Eastern Reg., Russia

This remarkable specimen formed deep within the Earth’s crust in the Dalnegorsk mining district of far eastern Russia, a storied region perched along the coast directly across from Japan. Dalnegorsk is legendary among collectors for producing some of the world’s finest sulfide minerals, including sphalerite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and historic fluorites that helped define an era of mineral collecting.

Those fluorites proved to be a turning point for Daniel. First encountered as a teenager collecting with his parents, they later inspired a life-changing journey to Russia while he was still in college, a trip that set the course for his career as a mineral dealer.

This specimen exemplifies why the district is so revered. Sculptural, isolated sphalerite crystals display pseudooctahedral, tetragonal forms, many of them twinned, all atop the branches of a matrix of quartz crystals. Calcite once filled the open spaces between the crystals and was later dissolved away, revealing an open, dramatic composition and enhancing the specimen’s visual depth.

The result is an extraordinary natural work of art. The contrast between sphalerite and quartz, in both color and texture, creates a striking dynamism, and the overall form possesses an unmistakably otherworldly presence.

Despite Daniel’s long career handling many of Dalnegorsk’s greatest treasures, he has encountered only a small number of specimens of this particular type, and this example stands clearly as the finest.

H: 18 cm W: 15.5 cm D: 12 cm Wt: 2.49 kg

17088, VivianiteRosia Poieni Mine, Musca, Lupsa Commune, Apuseni Mountains, Alba, RomaniaVivianite is a hydrated iron ph...
03/31/2026

17088, Vivianite
Rosia Poieni Mine, Musca, Lupsa Commune, Apuseni Mountains, Alba, Romania

Vivianite is a hydrated iron phosphate, known for its rich shades of blue, teal, and especially green. Fine, stable crystals of notable size and color are uncommon and highly desirable for their potential for color and gem-like aesthetics. While specimens have been found in deposits around the world, Romania stands as among the premier localities for well-formed, high-quality specimens.

This example presents a striking trio of elongated prismatic crystals in a tight, sculptural grouping. The color is particularly rich, it is a sumptuous, deep green color, a highly desirable expression for the species. The crystals are sharply defined, with broad, lustrous faces, creating a natural windowlike effect.

Contrasting against the vivid crystals, the matrix provides a rugged, textural counterpoint that emphasizes both the color and clarity of the vivianite. The overall composition is dynamic yet balanced, with a strong vertical presence that highlights the natural elegance of the crystal growth.

H: 14.5 cm W: 7 cm D: 4.5 cm Wt: 178 g

[NFS Sold] Heliodor #17637Volodarsk-Volynskii, Zhytomyr Oblast', UkraineHere’s a beautiful heliodor that many of you sa...
03/26/2026

[NFS Sold] Heliodor #17637
Volodarsk-Volynskii, Zhytomyr Oblast', Ukraine

Here’s a beautiful heliodor that many of you saw on display at the Munich show.
For those you who wanted a closer look, here it is!

Heliodor, the golden-yellow variety of beryl colored by trace amounts of iron (Fe), is among the most luminous expressions of the species, it is prized for its clarity and golden tones. Specimens from Volodarsk-Volynskii are especially regarded for their size and transparency. They are quickly identified by their etched shapes, which are the product of episodes of natural dissolution.

This example stands out for its unusually rich and evenly distributed golden-yellow hue, sizeable stature, and its beautiful glow. While evidence of dissolution is present in its surface texture, the crystal has a less tapered form than typically seen from the locality. In fact, its termination is sharply defined, composed of multiple peaks that lend the piece a distinctive silhouette. The crystal’s many faces catch and reflect light beautifully, creating a lively, sparkling luster across the surface.

With its combination of saturated color, sparkling luster, excellent clarity, and size, this specimen represents a particularly refined and visually compelling example of heliodor from this classic Ukrainian locality.

13 cm W: 5.3 cm D: 3.3 cm Wt: 391 g

03/19/2026

[NFS - SOLD]

This remarkable specimen showcases the transformation of fluorite through three distinct mineralizing events within the pocket environment. The original stage produced a well-formed cubic fluorite crystal, likely in association with barite. Later, late-stage hydrothermal fluids partially dissolved the primary cube, leaving behind an anhedral, free-form mass that recrystallized across its entire surface in a fine glistening sheen, a subtle but complete layer of new fluorite growth.

A subsequent mineralizing stage introduced a generation of micro-sphalerite crystals that coat portions of the fluorite. Most strikingly, two superb galena crystals formed atop one face of the former cube. Well-developed galena crystals were uncommon in the Cave-in-Rock district, fewer than fifty fine examples are known (most of them once in Ross Lillie’s collection) and this piece ranks among the very best, distinguished by its modified, near-cubo-octahedral geometry and exceptional luster.

Visually, the fluorite displays rich blue tones with a sharp violet band that glows vividly when backlit on its custom base, a dramatic effect in person and in display cases. The combination of color-zoned, fully recrystallized fluorite, sphalerite druse, and lustrous, architecturally complex galena crystals makes this specimen both scientifically significant and aesthetically outstanding. It will be prominently featured in Ross Lillie’s forthcoming definitive book on the district’s fluorites and rare species.

ID #: 11630, Galena & Fluorite
Annabel Lee Mine, Hardin County, Illinois, USA
H: 13 cm W: 17 cm D: 8.5 cm Wt: 3.609 kg

[NFS- SOLD] Those of you who followed Daniel on his journey from Skardu to Dassu might recognize this little beauty, her...
03/18/2026

[NFS- SOLD] Those of you who followed Daniel on his journey from Skardu to Dassu might recognize this little beauty, here to enjoy up close thanks to our wonderful in-house photography team.

ID #: 26701 — Lazulite
Haramosh Mountains, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan

This remarkable lazulite originates from the renowned Haramosh Mountains of northern Pakistan, a region celebrated for producing some of the world’s most important pegmatite minerals. The specimen is centered by a sharply defined lazulite crystal exhibiting an elegant, elongated, bipyramidal crystal, or pseudo-octahedrons, typical of the species. The crystal displays exceptional luster and vivid color, ranging from an electric sapphire blue to subtle greenish tones when viewed from different angles, showcasing the mineral’s strong dichroism. The matrix is made up of small lazulite microcrystals that provide both textural contrast and compositional balance. Material of this quality from Pakistan is exceedingly rare and widely regarded among collectors as the finest produced for the species. The premier example of its discovery, it stands among a select handful of the most refined lazulite crystals known from the locality.

H: 3 cm W: 2.8 cm D: 1 cm Wt: 7 g

The series is available in one convenient, full-length video on our Youtube channel, “From Skardu to Dassu: A Journey into Pakistan's Mineral Heartland with Daniel

03/13/2026

Daniel Trinchillo of Fine Minerals International and Rob Lavinsky of The Arkenstone () presented the 2026 David P. Wilber Award to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, honoring one of the most celebrated specimens from David Wilber’s collection: the legendary Rabbit Ears blue-cap tourmaline from the Tourmaline Queen Mine.

Long admired for its vivid color combination and unmistakable form, Rabbit Ears stands as one of the defining masterpieces of American tourmaline. Now preserved and shared with the public by HMNS, the specimen continues to inspire collectors and mineral enthusiasts alike.

A fitting tribute to an extraordinary crystal and to the lasting legacy of David Wilber!

03/13/2026

At the special exhibit assembled in honor of mineral collecting legend, David P. Wilber, Daniel and Crystal take a closer look at one of the most beloved pieces from his collection: the legendary “Rabbit Ears” blue-cap tourmaline.

Now preserved and displayed by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the specimen was discovered at the historic Tourmaline Queen Mine and has long been regarded as one of the defining American tourmalines. Its vivid blue cap, elegant composition, and distinctive twin-peaked silhouette that inspired its famous name have made it an enduring icon among collectors. As Daniel and Crystal spend time with the piece within the exhibit dedicated to Dave Wilber’s legacy, they reflect on what makes “Rabbit Ears” so special and why it continues to captivate the mineral community decades after its discovery.

03/09/2026

Revisiting a few beauties we had on display in Tucson!



ID #: 22126, Anorthoroselite
Aghbar Mine, Bou Azer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate, Morocco

Anorthoroselite is a calcium cobalt arsenate mineral. It is a relatively uncommon member of the roselite group. It occurs almost exclusively in cobalt-rich deposits, making Bou Azer one of the most important localities known for the species.

This specimen is comprised of densely clustered globular aggregates with a deep, oxblood red. Lustrous, saturated in color, and spherical, the anorthoroselite resembles freshly ripened cranberries. Upon closer inspection, one can see that each and every orb has tiny crystal faces, a wonderful detail of crystallography that also creates a beautiful texture that is highlighted by its shine. With its distinctive morphology and stand out color, it is a wonderful example of its kind.

H: 7.5 cm W: 8.5 cm D: 4 cm Wt: 275 g

03/06/2026

Revisiting a few beauties we had on display in Tucson, like this Wulfenite from the La Morita Mine

ID #: 19669, Wulfenite
La Morita Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico

This attractive specimen from the La Morita Mine features a dense cluster of sharp, tabular wulfenite crystals accompanied by small spherical mimetite crystals. The colors display a gradient of vivid yellow hues ranging from golden yellow to honeyed brown. The wulfenite crystals are highly lustrous and well-formed, while the tiny mimetite spheres interspersed among them add an appealing textural contrast. Beneath the cluster, the snow-white matrix further enhances the composition by providing crisp visual contrast.

A particularly compelling feature of the specimen is its naturally domed form. The thin, tabular crystals project outward across the curved surface, giving the piece depth and dimensionality when viewed from multiple angles. The La Morita Mine in Chihuahua is well regarded among collectors for producing vividly colored wulfenite specimens with excellent luster and well-defined crystal habit, and examples that combine strong color, large tabular crystals, and balanced composition, such as this one, are especially desirable.

H: 7 cm W: 7.5 cm D: 4.7 cm Wt: 253 g

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