Smithsonite
stock #8.1-262
Kelly Mine, Magdelena district
New Mexico,
United States
8.5 X 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
A very attractive and unusual crystalized smithsonite from this great American Classic locality. There is a rich crust showing discrete, rounded individual crystals with top quality color and luster on the gossan matrix. Good "wet" look to the crystals and a fine value for this very collectable locality. This is not the usual massive material and different from the "rice grain" type crystals.
Galena (spinel twinned) with quartz
stock #8.1-256
Krushev Dol Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
Plovdiv Oblast,
Bulgaria
9.5 x 6.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $275
The mines of Madan have produce some wonderful and unique Galenas, this is one. The flattened spinel twins have been "melted" by later hydrothermal fluids and show several complex forms much like a jumble of flattened discoidal plates. The crystals reach 3 CM. This piece has a bright mirror like luster and is in perfect condition (except chips on one part of the outer edge where it was collected, and that is not easily seen) all the display face is undamaged and showey. I have enjoyed searching out some of the special Galenas from Madan this is a fine and different example.
Fluorite on Quartz
stock #6.2-790
Xianghauling Tin Mine, Linwu County, Chenzoh
Hunan,
China
10x 6.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $280
The last thing the world needs is more green Fluorite from China, unless it is REALLY different! This is a different and interesting example of modified cubes that more like like material from Naica and older Dalngorsk than China, they have the sharp and clear window face and are sizable at 3.4 CM. Nice mint green color and luster with color contrast on the matrix. Over all quite esthetic, tho there is noticable damage on the perifery it still displays well. A good addition for a Fluorite suite, or a China collection as this is not typical!
Flourite w. Barite
stock #7-ESP-087
Berbes, Ribadesella
Asturias,
Spain
9.6 x 5.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
A fine delicately colored and very esthetic Berbes Fluorite, this is simply a very pretty piece. The most desirable glassy lustre, sharp and pristine cubes and subtle phantoms are what makes this one stand out. The barite adds a nice accent, and as good Berbes pieces are getting hard to find this is a very good value.
A wonderful esthetic for a dark mineral like Bournonite is to be displayed on on colorful matix, and this piece does that well. Several sharp, prismatic and lustrous silvery crystals of Bournonite are well placed on a sparkling purple fluorite and quartz mixture. A few matted hairs of Boulangerite are in evidence as well. There is one Bournonite that is broken off (not very distracting tho) all the rest are quite clean by eye and only show some edge chips at 10X magnification. A very good matrix Yaoganxian piece and a good value.
Barite
stock #7-CNA-490
Xichang Mine, Liangshan Prefecture
Sichuan,
China
8.2 x 6.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
A fine and esthetic cluster of sizable (up to 7.9CM) sharp and lusterous barites. Multi phantoms and transluscent golden to brownish green tones set the main crystals off, and a mutitude of smaller crystals decorate the larger prisms. These were mined in 2003-4 and have disappeared since then, the vast majority had substantial damage. This is a rareity in that it has very little damage (some broken tiny sidegrowth crystals and minor edge wear, chipping of the larger crystals) it displays well and nothing is badly distracting. This locality is one of the most important recent finds and a must for a good Barite suite or any Chinese collection.
"Sugar Frosted" Fluorite on Quartz
stock #5.1-057.3
Xianghuapu Mine, Linwu, Chenzhou District
Hunan,
China
12.6 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Super attractive and with wonderful presentation! This thin plate of matrix has a chain of sharp light green cubes up to 3.7 cm perched with a sparkling frosting of micro quartz crystals making it look like a collection of sugar cubes. On a few spots the coating has chipped off and the glassy green cubes are seen below the frost. Overall in outstanding condition, there is only periferal edge damage of not and it is not seen in most logical display orientations. We obtained this in 2003 from a small find at Xinghuapu I have not seen any since.This is a very different and attractive specimen!
Epidote on Byssolite
stock #AC 204
Knappenwand, Untersulzbachal Valley
Hohe Tauern Mts. Salzburg,
Austria
7.2 x 4.8 CM (small cabinet/large miniature)
price: $45
From the historic and most highly regarded locality for Epidote this is a good example of the byssolite association and an inexpensive way to own a true classic! The Epidotes reach 1.5 CM set on a sparkling mound of Byssolite fibers. There is damage on the epidotes, they are not the gemmy crystals this locale is known for, but the Byssolite is very attractive. This piece is from a 1930's vintage collection and is very reasonably priced.
