Rhodochrosite New find, classic locale
stock #18.1-667
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
2.5 x 2.2 x 2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $1350
A choice and brilliant thumbnail of complex, gem grade Rhodochrosite. This is part of a small find made late last year at the famed Nchwaning #1 mine. The result of years of digging in an attempt to find more of the legendary scalenohedral gem clear Rhodos last produced over thirty years ago. Those are now some of the most highly prized mineral specimens in the world. This new find was small but the quality was excellent. The Rhodo crystals are small but perfect, lustrous and with top intense red. This specimen has a mix of habits and forms all with a luster that is almost impossibly bright, best appreciated in person. A few tiny Hematite crystals are scattered on the piece as well otherwise this is all pure gem Rhodochrosite. We had the opportunity to select a few of the very best pieces from the find as they were unveiled at the Munich show, this is one of them.
Rhodochrosite (new find at classic locale)
stock #18.1-673
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
3.2 x 2.1 x 1.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2250
A superb large thumbnail/ toenail Rhodo that has exception bright luster, color and is perfectly undamaged. This is part of a small find made late last year at the famed Nchwaning #1 mine. The result of years of digging in an attempt to find more of the legendary scalenohedral gem clear Rhodos last produced over thirty years ago. Those are now some of the most highly prized mineral specimens in the world. This new find was small but the quality was excellent. The Rhodo crystals are small but perfect, lustrous and with top intense red. This specimen has a mix of habits and forms all with a luster that is almost impossibly bright, best appreciated in person.
A few tiny Hematite crystals are scattered on the piece as well otherwise this is all pure gem Rhodochrosite. We had the opportunity to select a few of the very best pieces from the find as they were unveiled at the Munich show, this is one of them.
An extraordinary, esthetic Tsumeb Azurite with crystals in compound clusters much like flattened rosettes and curved prisms. Presents well from all sides and in perfect, undamaged condition. Similar in some ways to a few specimens we have seen with this habit from the famed Easter pocket, this piece is not attributed to that find but reportedly is from an older discovery. Far better in person, the blue is an intense deep hue that is almost impossible to render on a computer screen.
Zircon with Sphene (Titanite)
stock #18.1-247
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa Province,
Sri-Lanka
8.3 x 5.3 x 3.8 CMM (cabinet)
price: $240
A choice Sri-Lankan specimen. Crystals of elongated Zircons that are reddish purple in color are up to 2.6 CM on a complex matrix. The specimen includes Sphene crystals to 3.5 CM. Despite some small broken crystals and contacting the piece still presents very well. The luster is a slightly "melted" look but still glassy and bright. Ex collection of Chris Amo, this is a very well formed example of the elongated habit of these Zircons.
Fluorite - epitaxial crystal clusters
stock #14.1-232
Xianghualing Mine, Linwu County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
10.3 x 7.3 x 5.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $480
An older very fine Fluorite that is a pure mass of oriented crystals all of which are modified cubo-octahedral or dodecahedrons. In fine condition, the display sides are choice and undamaged only the backside is contacted. The larger crystals are fully transparent and have very good luster. Displays well from several angles, this style and habit has not been available recently except from older stock (as this is). A modern Chinese classic.
Chrysocolla PS after Malachite after Azurite
stock #15.1-330
Lupoto mine, Lubumbashi, Katanga Copper Crescent
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
9.1 x 8.1 x 5.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $780
An eye-catching complex cluster of very sharp crystal forms that show clearly the original shape of the Azurite crystals that were altered to Malachite and are now nearly all Chrysocolla. A few of the smaller crystals have broken section that show the core of unaltered Malachite. Other crystals are now hollow as well, reaching up to 3.2 CM long. Overall this is a delicate specimen that is very 3 dimensional and a choice cast form . One of the mineralogical discoveries that made big news about 2 years ago, these are now quite scarce on the market.
Elbaite- gem crystal
stock #18.1-336
Pederneira Mine, Sao Jose da Safira, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
4.2 x 1.1 x .8 CM (miniature)
price: $380
Bright green to blueish glassy luster tourmaline crystal in excellent condition. Nearly all gem grade, this weighs 6.5 Grams, and has only a few minor internal veils. Excellent example of this style from the great Pederneira Mine, there are no chips or flaws on the entire prism or termination, althouh this is inclomplete on the bottom end where it came from the matrix. That is not visible when displayed.
Elbaite on and in tabular Quartz
stock #16.1-563
Cruzeiro Mine, Sao Jose de Safira
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.3 x 2.6 x 1.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $340
A dark green to bluish pair of Elbaite crystals are laying on the flat face face of this tabular Quartz crystal. Very unusual and presenting an unique esthetic. The Tourmalines look nearly black in some light but with strong backlight the color and translucence is more distinct. The larger Tourmaline is contacted on one end but well terminated on the other, the smaller is doubly terminated. Aside from minor edge chipping the specimen is in fine shape. The Quartz is especially clear, completely transparent, doubly terminated and very glassy. Best appreciated in person.