A fine, old large Chabazite specimen with bright sparkling pink crystals covering most of a blocky matrix. Ex Moritz and Adolph Lechner, Frank Edwards and John Marshall collections, This was handled by Schortmann's Minerals when they obtained and sold the Lechner (Austria) collection. Their label dates to about 1936, though the Lechner collection is far older, begun in the late 1800 era but included several much older collections. The label has the older spelling of the locality. There is still a working Quarry in this area but this specimen is certainly far older. In excellent condition, the price in 1936 was two dollars, a sizable amount at that time.
Euclase - gemmy crystals
stock #7.AE-405
Piaotang Mine, Xihuashan Intrusion, Dayu County, Ganzhou Prefecture
Jiangxi Province,
China
6.8 x 3.8 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
Fall 22
An exceptional Euclase from Piaotang (China) from the one time find in 2007. In excellent condition, no naked eye visible damage. The crystals are up to 1.4 CM though most are 1 CM or smaller. These are all water clear, gemmy, well-striated and very sharp. There is a silvery sheen reflected from lustrous faces much like an Apophyllite. The habit of the crystals is similar to older Brazilian specimens, but they are also distinctly different on close exam. This specimen is from Dr Marcus Lueg collection and stands as one of the very best of the find.
Vanadinite var Endlichite
stock #AX-11-271
Mina El Gallo, Santa Eulalia
Chihuahua,
Mexico
5.9 x 4.5 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
Fall 22
Clusters and branching groups of elongated, tapered crystals of Vanadinite from a find about 7 years ago. From Mina El Gallo in the Santa Eulalia system, this find produced a small but impressive lot of pointed Vanadinites. This piece has two distinct sides, one has a coating of the crystals by orange iron oxides the other side is uncoated, lustrous and light green to yellow in color. Close exam will find a few bruised tips but the vast majority are perfect and quite esthetic. Displays very well, a choice Mexican Vanadinite.
Vanadinite var. Endlichite
stock #AC-014
Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos
Chihuahua,
Mexico
7.7 x 6.3 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Fall 22
From this famed Mexican classic locality better known for fine Wulfenites, there were also some excellent Vanadinites. The Arsenian variety Endlichite was predominent and some of the best were found in the 1960 era. These are almost never seen on the market anymore in any quality. This piece is from that time and very esthetic. Ex Immer Cook collection. This is well-defined, with perfect elongated crystals covering a large face of the matrix. The crystals are barrel shaped and many have hoppered terminations with central canals or holes going quite deep into the prisms. In fine condition and very three dimensional in person, a nice classic Mexican specimen.
Wulfenite covered by Quartz with Hemimorphite
stock #AX-19-067
Finch Mine AKA Barking Spider Mine, Keystone Gulch, Chilito, Hayden area
Arizona,
United States
6.3 x 3.7 x 3 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $120
Fall 22
One of Arizona’s most distinctive Wulfenite localities, the Finch Mine, (also called the Barking Spider Mine), produces this type of epimorph. The Wulfenite here is encased in druzy Quartz crystals but the color of the orange crystals below is seen through the colorless Quartz. A sprinkle of Hemimorphite is noted but the main focus is the tabular Wulfenites on contrasting vuggy Quartz matrix.
A very well-crystallized classic specimen from the ancient mining district of Pribram. The silver-rich Tetrahedrites had been called Freibergite but this is now a discredited specie name but exists as a subgroup tin the Tetrahedrite family. This is a superb piece with well-defined crystals on sizable Siderite crystals. The cluster of Freibergite/Tetrahedrite crystals is 3.2 CM across and is overall in good condition though there are some bruises to mention. despite that this is still a killer for the locality and specie. Silver was chased in this zone going back for centuries, later lead and finally Uranium were sought. Silver species are quite prized and well-crystalized specimens are now rare from this famed mine.
Fluorite and Quartz - classic locale
stock #13.1-051
Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freibourg region, Black Forest
Baden-Wurttemberg,
Germany
6.4 x 4.7 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
Fall 22
Cubic Fluorite cluster on a rounded matrix of reddish color Quartz from the Wolfach area (Germany). The largest Fluorite is very lightly tinged a pinkish-purple, the smaller cubes are nearly colorless. This region has been a mining center for well over 100 years and some zones are still producing. This specimen is in good condition overall, there are some rough edge spots but it is unusually intact, well-formed and attractive in composition. The large crystal is 3.3 CM diagonal, quite large for a violet Fluorite from this region.
Mottramite covering Wulfenite
stock #22.1-033
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
4.4 x 3.4 x1.7 CM (miniature)
price: $350
Fall 22
A miniature with great form and an unusual combination of specie. The specimen is fully covered by Mottramite in a botryoidal form that has enclosed underlying Wulfenite crystals. The form of the Wulfenite blades is still evident but they are not visible on the specimen surface. A very unusual replacement, and another example of the amazing processes that have taken place at Mina Ojuela. No damage and a fine example of Mexican Mottramite.
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