Calcite (frosted) on Quartz
stock #9.1-163
Rossie Lead Mine, St. Lawrence Co.
New York,
United States
4.8 x 4 CM (miniature)
price: $250
From the classic old locality of Rossie that was active from 1830 to 1860. A nicely frosted main crystal with a few smaller on the sides sits on a quartz matrix. No damage. good clarity and some internal rainbows . This seems to be an untwinned crystal that was less common at Rossie. Calcites from here were used in many crystalographic illustrations and studies in the classic literature. These are rarely available now.
Sphalerite
stock #AC-017
Joplin
Missouri,
United States
8.6 x 5.4 x 3.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $325
A brilliant and pristine red Sphalerite from the classic Tri State district. Even though this was once easilly available it was not usually as attractive as this piece. The mines have been closed for decades now and is now quite uncommon to find any good USA "ruby jack". A sizable vug of 7.5 Cm across is packed with lusterous sparkling Ruby color crystals that reach 1.1 CM however most are smaller. No damage, great esthetics and all crystals are translucent. There are some saddle shape Dolomites and a sprinkling of Chalcopyrite as well for a nice contrast. The back of the matrix block has a nice display of Sphalerite as well (6 CM across), and would be an excellent piece on its own. Very classy color and great eye appeal as well as being an affordable classic US piece!
SOLD Prehnite (cast / Pseudomorph)
stock #SOLD 7 NJ- 188
Fanwood Quarry, (Weldon Quarry) Watchung, Somerset County
New Jersey,
United States
11.9 x 5.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $250
A sparkling and delicate complex cast after what looks like jumbled Calcite rhombs but there are several other species that these can cast after. The green color and sharpness are excellent on this and there is no damage. This Weldon quarry piece is much like the more famous Patterson casts but it is also a little brighter and has a little better definition than most others. A very good example of a classic New Jersey mineral.
A big, sharp and fine example of the "aphrosiderite" psudomorph of Garnet by a Chlorite mineral. These old classics from Michigan are usually not this good, this crystal has every face complete and is a the most perfect example I have handled, and at nearly 3 inches, that is remarkable. Nice black to greenish blue patina too. An old Wards label is included.
Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite
stock #7-TRI-578
Tri State District, Ottawa County
Oklahoma,
United States
15 x 9.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $700
A very old and very fine Tri-state classic! Ex collection of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, This is a true top shelf specimen. Sphalerites here reach to 4 CM and are exceptionally well formed. The smaller crystals are a fine ruby red (rubyjack) while the larger ones are darker and coated with chalcopyrites. Some faces are noticably irridescent and over all the luster is outstanding. The only damage is at the outer edges where it would be expected, the display face is pristine, three dimensional and very esthetic. The old Tri-state area produced a lot of materials in its time, but this quality was excellent even in its heyday.
A very attractive, classic Michigan copper in Calcite that is perhaps over 100 years old. These have become quite desireable and usually very expensive. The piece has Calcites to 2.8 CM that are filled with copper that is also protruding from some faces, and is clearly crystalized. The matrix is mostly copper dusted with epidote and some malachite crystals, Esthetic but not pristine, three calcites have cleaves or chips, this is not excessive but keeps this a more affordable specimen.
well crystallized and classic for the mine this is almost all Pyrite with some Galena matrix. Magnification shows the "ugly grey-black" coatings on the pyrites are micros of Friburgite in "cruller" form with what appears to be Dycrasite. A good reference piece for this prolific mine and not that ugly overall!
SOLD Wulfenite with Mimetite
stock #SOLD 8- ARIZ-990
Rowley Mine, (Reliance Mine), Theba, Painted Rock District
Arizona,
United States
4.3 x 3.1 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $160
Fine and colorful wulfenite windowpanes on a small minature / large toenail. The matrix is a dense cluster of intergrown Barite crystals and gossan that are well covered with Mimetite in both crystal sprays and botryoidal clusters. Scattered on that are several sharp transparent orange wulfenites, the largest reaching 1.3 CM. No damage is visibly to my naked eye, at 10x magnification I can find some very minor edge chipping. Under the microscope this piece is really amazing with lots of color, form and sparkle! A great American locality and a fine little Wulfenite at a very affordable price.
