Grossular - gemmy crystals
stock #18.1-763
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.1 x 2.1 1.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $280
Spring 2020
A cluster or stack of very lustrous Garnets with the classic color and form that made the Jeffrey Mine world famous. This is the flattened type of cluster with no matrix, it is entirely contacted on the back as was the case with this style, fully translucent and mostly transparent. This type of specimen was sometimes used as a sort of natural jewelry, mounted or wire wrapped as is or with the back ground flat. A very good value these Garnets show characteristic striations and growth hillocks. A fine modern classic from a source that will never again produce anything.
Adamite
stock #17.1-550
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
5.7 x 4.6 x 1.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Spring 2020
Adamite crystals standing up from the limonite matrix in both white and light mint green colors. Early seventies vintage specimen from Mina Ojuela, ex Les Hitchings collection. Vivid fluorescence and in excellent condition. A few Calcite crystals are also on the matrix but this is mostly all Adamite. So much good Adamite came out during that period in many habits that these were under respected. Currently much less is coming out and we know this was a golden age for the worlds best examples of this specie. Choice display with good visual impact for the size.
Fluorite
stock #19.1-517
Heights Mine, Durham, Weardale County
County Durham,
England
4.1 x 3.3 x 3.3 CM (miniature)
price: $325
Spring 2020
Perfect and well composed Fluorite from the Heights mine. This cute miniature has a prominent, well isolated and very sharp cube perched on top. The edges and corners are sharp and perfect on this, the luster is glasslike and the Fluorites are quite transparent. No visible damage. A good value for a small, choice classic British Fluorite with a quality well beyond typical.
Quartz on Chrysocolla and Malachite
stock #20.1-176
Phelps Dodge Morenci Mine, Morenci, Copper Mt. Mining District, Greenlee
Arizona,
United States
11.6 x 8.1 x 6.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1100
Spring 2020
A large colorful Copper secondary display specimen from an old find in Arizona. A druze of tiny clear Quartz crystals is covering many green Malachite balls and areas of bright blue Chrysocolla. The overall effect is sparkling and vivid in person. A sizable specimen from Morenci. The bulk of the matrix is layers of Chrysocolla in several shades of blue looking like a rich Turquoise. Some of those thin layers seem to be "gem Silica" that when thick enough is highly sought after for Lapidary. These layers are too thin for that and the surrounding Chrysocolla is quite brittle besides. The matrix has been properly stabilized to keep it from cracking as some Chrysocolla can do. This piece is early sixties vintage and simply eyecatching.
Smithsonite
stock #17.1-614
Choix, Municipio de Choix
Sinaloa,
Mexico
6.2 x 3.9 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $180
Spring 2020
"Wet-look" luster on bubble-gum pink Smithsonite from Choix. In undamaged condition, this is from the early finds made by Benny Fenn. This locality in Sinaloa is not currently producing, it has however in the past yielded many great colors and forms of Smithsonite. This is a good clean small cabinet size that shows the color and habit well. A thick layer with nice luster shows the inner structure on the edges.
Antlerite
stock #19.1-514
Chuquicamata Mine, Calama, El Loa Province
Antofagasta Region,
Chile
6.3 x 4.4 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $580
Spring 2020
A superb very well crystalized example of this rare Copper Sulphate from Chuquicamata. Good Antlerite in prismatic crystals from this long ago find is not often available. These crystals are in the 3-4mm range which is about as large as any known from this legendary locality. Under magnification a variety of forms are noted and most of the individual crystals are well isolated, gemmy and brightly colored. This locale was at one time the source of many incredible rare copper minerals including rare copper Halides and what were for a century the worlds best Antlerites. A small newer find at Milpillas has since produced larger crystals with a different habit (and a far higher price). Chuqui was developed into one of the worlds largest open pits with efficient mechanized processes that now of course destroy any specimens at great speed. I have visited the site several times in the past decade but never found even a crumb worth obtaining, nothing is coming out. This piece is obviously from long ago.
Gem clear terminated Beryl crystal that has several inner channels or tubes. There is one small tube that opens in the middle of the termination but the others are closed inside the prism. In excellent condition a nice pale green crystal with a termination that has both a tapering form and a flat top. It is incredible how many variations and modifications of Beryl that have been found over the years, and Brazil in particular has been the source of many unique habits.
Pyromorphite -very old classic locale
stock #0100-JM-141
Bleistadt (Olovi), Sokolov District
Karlovy Vary Region (Bohemia),
Czech Republic
5.6 x 3.9 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $300
Spring 2020
A choice historic Pyro and a very uncommon locality piece that is quite a lot nicer than just a "reference" specimen. From the ancient lead mining area in Czech Republic, Bleistadt (or Olovi) in Bohemia has been mined for centuries beginning in the early 14th century. This specimen was in the Moritz Lechner Collection (1850-1903) of Austria which was made up of several much earlier collections going back to the early 18th century. Much of this collection was later obtained by the Schortmann brothers (Massachusetts, USA) who sold this piece in 1969 to John Marshall. John was building a comprehensive Pyromorphite suite and seeking as many rare locality pieces as possible. The labels are included along with the Marshall collection card. The specimen itself has several blocky, dark brown, lustrous crystals to almost 1 CM on a vuggy Quartz matrix. In very good condition the matrix has been crudely sawn long ago on the back and sides. A few older labels and numbers are affixed on this specimen which predate the Lechner collection number. While we do not know the earliest collection history of this piece it is clearly very very old and a very nice bit of mineralogical history.
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