Sphalerite- gem variety Cleiophane
stock #AX-27-101
Ninth of September mine, Madan, Rhodope Mountains
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
7.9 x 5.5 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Worldwide mix summer
Sharp and glasslike gem Sphalerite crystals contrast with the white matrix in an esthetic combination. The Sphalerites are a dark yellow-green best seen when under strong light. The luster is brilliant. From the Madan area of Bulgaria, this zone has produced some extraordinary Sphalerites (and Galenas as well) on occasion. This piece is from a few years ago out of one incredible pocket. Far better than typical specimen with fine 3 dimensional esthetics, there is no damage at all.
Galena with Chalcopyrite and Dolomite
stock #18.1-231
Brushy Creek Mine, Greely, Viburnum Trend District, Reynolds County
Missouri,
United States
5.9 x 4.6 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $220
Worldwide mix summer
Bright silver color Galena in elongated cube form sits on a finger of matrix covered with small Dolomite and Chalcopyrite crystals. This is the sort of Galena that has made the Brushy Creek locality famous, with extra bright luster, attractive form and in fine undamaged condition. Any suite of lead minerals will have at least one good specimen. These are contemporary classics, still very affordable and unlike the look of Galena from any other area in the world.
From an older European collection, these are well formed, fine Chalcopyrites with some complex Galena all dusted with Calcites. The original label lists this as from Rodna, but it is unlike any other example we have seen from the locale, and unlike any of the better known Romanian localities (Cavnic, Turt etc). As often happens with old collections we can not always fully trust the locality information, but if correct this is especially fine for the locality and a significant older Roumanian piece with character. Undamaged. The Chalcopyrites reach 2.6 CM and are textbook sharp.
Calcite- Complex twin
stock #18.1-230
Daye Iron Mine, Edong Mining District, Huangshi Prefecture
Hubei Province,
China
7.4 x 5.4 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
Worldwide mix summer
From the Daye mining area in 2002 before it became a well known mineral locality, this Calcite has a form unlike later finds. The Calcite is almost 6 CM in diameter, transparent (more so than the photos show) and with glassy luster. Some contacts are noted on the back (see the last photo of the back) but overall as seen it is in very fine condition damagewise. Displays well from several angles, we obtained this on one of of earliest trips to China and until recently it was in my personal collection.
Galena Pseudo after Pyromorphite -Classic locale
stock #0241-JM-331A
Wheal Hope, Perranzabuloe, St. Agnes District
Cornwall,
England
2.8 x 2.3 x 1.5 CM (thumbnail)
price: $330
Worldwide mix summer
Classic Cornish thumbnail specimen of the very desirable Galena after Pyromorphite crystals from Wheal Hope. Small but distinct crystals of Pyromorphite have full changed to Galena but the form remains. Ex John Marshall collection, obtained by him before 1970. These Pseudomorphs are only known from a few spots in the world and all seem to have been found over a century ago. These are especially uncommon from Cornwall, and while to many people are just black and ugly, they are a prize to those who understand these things!
The Eisieben Mines date back to the end of the 19th century (or more), worked for Copper and Nickel, but from time to time some excellent Selenite was found. This is a choice piece, in pristine condition, with sharp delicate prisms on matrix. In person the transparency is far more impressive.
Magnesite- large crystals
stock #16.1-1289
Kaswassergraben, GrobBreifing, Hieflau
Styria,
Austria
9.1 x 6.8 x 6.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $280
Worldwide mix summer
Very large to 5.6 CM across Magnesite crystals clustered on a Magnesite matrix from this classic locality. Kaswassergraben is famed for these rare and unusual hexagonal crystals unlike any other locality. This is an excellent example of a rare matrix piece with huge crystals for the locale. The back side is broken from the host rock but the front side main crystals present well with a fine pearly luster and stepped growth faces. I have not seen many of these and this is by far the largest crystal cluster I know of, other large crystals are usually about 2 CM at best.
Stibnite - classic Japanese locale
stock #AX-10-681
Ichinokawa, Saijo , Ehime Prefecture
Shikoku Island,
Japan
6.4 x 3.1 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Worldwide mix summer
A fat, gun-metal silver blue compound crystal from the very old find at Iyo. This was a gift to the collector Wallace Gould Levison of New York City in 1915. His label does not survive but the gift is recorded in his ledger. This crystal is very complex and recrystalized, it looks at quick glance like a badly broken piece but on inspection the termination is complete and most of the rough faces are in fact fully crystalized. There is only one area of da,
mage and that is limited to the backside. The Patina is the perfect, classic look of a vintage Japanese Stibnite and the complex form is oddly attractive too.
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