Native Silver w. minor copper
stock #8 US 941
Wolverine Mine, Wolverine, Houghton Co.
Michigan,
United States
12.2 x 5.2 x 1 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
A very large and rich Silver from the Wolverine mine. This has almost 100 percent Silver but there is a tiny sploch of Copper on one edge. The silver has a patina ranging from near black to irridescent to brighter silver tones. Some of the silver at first glance looks copperlike. Some bits of matrix are included but this is nearly all metal. With low magnification some herringbone and crude crystals are seen as well. In outstanding condition this is a classic and heavy chunk of Michigan Silver!
Fluorite on Muscovite
stock #6.2-847
Yaogangxian Tungsten Mine, Yizhang County
Hunan,
China
5.2 x 3.1 (miniature)
price: $160
A killer small miniature of Yaogangxian Fluorite! From one of the most fantastic localities for great Fluorites, this is just as nice as it looks, sharp, clear with fine esthetics. With 10 x magnification a few trivial bits of chipping are visible. Nice color and clarity, far better than the typical stuff, good pieces like this will certainly become even more desirable as the mine is now closed.
A fine older specimen of optically clear to slightly milky Dolomite that is sharp, lusterous and esthetically intergrown. It is easy to see internal rainbow paterns as the clear crystal faces form natural glass-like prisms. This piece dates to the late 1950's. The quality and clarity is quite high, although some of the crystals do have some very small edge rough spots and a corner ding that is noticable. None of this is distracting as can be seen from the photos. There have not been many finds of such gemmy Dolomites , and these are large (up to 4.8 CM) as well.
SOLD Silver in Calcite
stock #SOLD8.1-252
Andres del Rio District, Batopilas
Chihuahua,
Mexico
6.4 x 3 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $0
A classic older Batopilas Silver showing well formed herringbone silver crystals that form a sculptural array. Excellent detail on the wires, there are several diferent forms here all very delicate and defined. This form is unique for Batopilas it is instantly recognizable and these have become quite hard to get in good quality. This one is very good.
SOLD Native Silver (fine wires) with Stephanite
stock #SOLD 8.1-197
San Genaro Mine, Castrovirreyna Dist.and Province
Huancavelica Department,
Peru
6.9 x 4.8 CM (cabinet /museum)
price: $700
A very esthetic well composed Silver specimen from the San Genaro Mine. An older piece ex. Terry Szenics. The matrix hosts many dark silver sulphides and the Stephanite is in distinct groups of eye visible crystals. The wires are densly piled above the matrix looking much like steel wool, with thicker central trunks ending in very fine tangled wires. A very rich piece and quite eyecatching
Like an ice sculpture of pink glass! This is a bi color (light green at the "stem" grading to a clean peach-pink at the top) and 100% gem grade - there are no inclusions at all! The etched areas have recrystalized so it is composed of hundreds of tiny faces and facets. This is at least 17 years old and I have not seen anything newer to compare with the older material for eyecatching form and luster. This is about as fine a color and form as could be asked for, a really good gem Beryl!
A very fine copper branch, well crystallized and with great esthetics. This piece still has a few flecks of adhering matrix (which could be removed). The definition and sharpness of the flattened crystals is outstanding. It is hard to tell what the vintage of this is, but this is clearly a very old piece, sold by Shortmanns in the 1950's but perhaps over 50 years older than that. There is a lot of good copper in the market but this is really different and distinctive!
Rhodochrosite with Native Silver
stock #8.1-419
Wudong mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co. Wuzoh
Guanxi,
China
4.1 x 3.8 CM (miniature)
price: $1650
A big rich red translucent rhomb that is quite a good Rhodo on its own. However, this has the addition of wire silver and silver "skins" in several spots. The largest wire is about 7mm long and easily visible. This locality has produced only a few good examples of this rare association. This is an outstanding one. The crystal is transparent to translucent and glows with any backlighting. There is the typical internal stress fractures visible inside, a contact on the backside, and cleaving on the exterior as seen in the photos. Despite this it is a very attractive, displayable, bright and eyecatching crystal in the top percentile of quality from this location. A most desirable piece for a Chinese suite, Rhodo or Silver collection or just for the novelty and color!
