Adamite (Cuprian)
stock #19.1-877
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
4.5 x 3.4 x 2.6 CM (miniature)
price: $260
Rich color and bright luster, a fine druse of sharp Adamite crystals on a Gossan matrix. A few small Calcites and some areas of Conichalcite are also present. The Cuprian Adamite from here are now considered the world's best by far and can be very esthetic. For years Cuprian Adamite was also known from Tsumeb and was also very attractive but recent studies have shown those should in fact are Zinco-Olivenite. This miniature has two well-crystallized areas that are on opposite sides of the matrix. This specimen is in excellent condition the blue green color is especially bright and this has a good display impact despite the small size.
Ruby (Corundum) on Marble
stock #19.1-782
Mogok, Pyin-oo-Lwin District
Mandalay Division,
Burma (Myanmar)
5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $150
A sharp, doubly terminated pink to red Ruby sits well exposed on contrasting Calcite/ Marble. The Crystal is 2.3 CM long, and shows bright luster and sharp striations. Vividly fluorescent as well, the crystal is complete despite a few cracks, and has a good translucence.
Small but bright, sharp and gemmy free standing crystals of bright yellow Legrandite. These crystals line a vug with a druse of smaller more pale Legrandites as a background. A small area of Smithsonite in Scalenohedral crystals is also noted on the back of the matrix. This is an older specimen from 1970 vintage finds. Magnification reveals a few broken crystals at the edge but those in the central area are complete and perfect. A very good budget specimen.
Copper
stock #1003-JM-1428
Cliff Mine, Pheonix, Keweenaw County
Michigan,
United States
16.1 x 2 x .5 CM (cabinet)
price: $220
An antique native copper "finger" or "fan blade" made by skilled hand chiseling long ago. These artifacts were made by miners from the often huge masses of pure Copper encountered in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. From the John Marshall collection, this is recorded as from the Cliff Mine, such attributions of these artifacts are quite uncommon. Aside from the very hard labor of hammering through solid copper, these fingers required a lot of skill to create such a long straight and clean blade. While not a typical mineral specimen this is a very much a classic Native Copper that has had a major trimming job!
Spessartine on Galena
stock #19.1-857
Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
5 x 4.3 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $3200
A killer bright red well formed Spessartine Garnet perched on classic Galena matrix from Broken Hill. The Garnet is nearly 2.5 CM across the long dimension, which is huge for this locale and the color, luster and condition are superb. No damage or repairs, the back of the Garnet has a clean contact but is complete and with no chipping even under 30X magnification. Sits well for display without props, this is far better in person. This almost certainly came from the North mine but the old labels are not specific, so we are listing it as simply "Broken Hil"
A complex small specimen with two main large Bismuthinite crystals that are covered with tiny crystals of Stannite and Marcasite. The specimen also has areas of Chalcopyrite as well as some tiny needle crystals of Bismuthinite that seems to be a later generation. A choice example of the thicker type of Bismuthinite crystals and a nice association of these two Sulfides. From a recent find that was premiered in Munich in October 2019.
Helvite/ Genthelvite on Quartz with Fluorite
stock #AX-14B-107
Huanggang Mine, Chifeng Prefecture, Hexigten Banner, Ulanhead League
Inner Mongolia Region,
China
8.8 x 5.4 x 4.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $950
A huge somewhat crude but very sharp Helvite series crystal is nestled in a cluster of prase type Quartz. These Helvite crystals are often zoned in this locality and may contain all members of the series (Danalite, Helvite and Genthelvite) in a single prism. This one has clearly also had some secondary alterations, and some parts of the Helvite faces have been encrusted with tiny Quartz crystals. The termination has an extra touch - a purple octahedron of Fluorite perched near the tip adds contrast. No damage, the Helvite is nearly 4 CM tall which is very large from any locale and especially big for Huanggang. An early specimen (prior to 2008) from this now prolific mine. An impressive example of this locale and specie.
A well crystalized cluster of Gypsum (Selenite) with rich green inclusions and encrustations of the rare mineral Herbertsmithite. This find has produced what are certainly the most esthetic examples of this specie as Herbertsmithite is not usually a "display" grade mineral. Recently Herbersmithite was found to have unique properties of changeable magnetism and with quantum spin properties. This was picked up in some of the popular media and somewhat exaggerated as news, even being called a "new form of matter". There was a brief period where tiny crumbs were being sold for high prices. Despite the inaccurate hype this is a remarkable mineral and on this specimen it is actually attractive.
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