Illustrated specimen from the recent Min. Record article on Variscite! From the great early finds by Ed Over in Fairfield, Utah, this is an attractive nodule of colorful and uncommon phosphates. Most pieces like this were sawn and polished to show off the zoning and fortifications, it is rather hard to find a good natural nodule. Very nice colors and loaded with micros, this is classic material and a very good example.
Tourmaline (elbaite)
stock #AC-027
Pala, San Diego Co.
California,
United States
2.8 x 1.7 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $100
A pair of bubblegum pink gem crystals from this classic American location. Excellent luster, color and showing some zoning, there is minor contacting to this very cute crystal group. The terminations are both complete, the smaller one has a more rounded style. At 10x magnification some tiny edge chips are visible, they are not seen by my unaided eyes. Quite close to perfect for one of these, and economically priced.
Another classic Bisbee association, in an unusually fine specimen this is almost all native Copper in crude crystals. The Copper is a psuedomorph after Cuprite, with some unaltered zones and small Cuprite octahedrons that still have red color. Fibrous crystallized Malachite sprays add a rich green color. Magnification reveals some Calcite that is green colored due to the Copper. The definition of this piece is excellent, it is quite old it was sold by Schortmanns in the 60's and comes with that old label.
Wulfenite
stock #8 ARIZ 792
Red Cloud Mine, Silver District, Trigo Mts, La Paz County
Arizona,
United States
1.5 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $150
A small Red Cloud thumbnail that is simply esthetic! essentially perfect, there is no damage that can be seen by naked eye, very tiny edge chip is found at 20X magnification. The matrix hosts a sharp deep orange-red Wulfenite that is 9 mm in size, and has some micro calcite rhombs on it as well. Small but sweet.
SOLD Wulfenite on Calcite SOLD
stock #SOLD 8.1-423- AC
Hilltop mine (Hand Mine),Rustier Park, Chiricahua Mts. Cochise Co.
Arizona,
United States
6.1 x 2.7 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $320
An old Arizona classic, the Hilltop Wulfenites are quite sought after. This has some very good complete yellow crystals to 8mm in size scattered on a sparkling white calcite. There is no damage visible by naked eye, but chipping and broken micro crystals are seen at 10X magnification. From an old collection this was part of the Schortmann Bros. stock probably ealy 1900 vintage. Very afordable for this locality!
Pyromorphite
stock #8.1-210
Bunkerhill Mine, Kellogg, Coeur d'Alene District, Shosone County
Idaho,
United States
5.6 x 5.4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $360
A very pretty "wet look" Bunker Hill Pyromorphite with good color, luster and form. No damage. Bunker Hill materials are highly regarded as one of the top 3 worldwide locations and they are distinctive as well. This is a good piece and quite affordable.
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!
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!
