Two fine gemmy Apatites are perched esthetically on a well crystallized Muscovite matrix. The crystals have good deep pink to purple color shift, glassy faces and are in excellent condition. Far better than average for the Xuebaoding locality and a fine Apatite from anyplace!
From the prolific Shangbao Mine in Hunan province, a find of weird, exotic Quartz was made in 2008. This specimen is a great example, with a tree like spray of delicate, complex and striking crystals perched on a blocky Dolomite crystal cluster. In excellent condition, this is a fine, attractive and really different quartz specimen!
Quartz (fadden habit)
stock #12.1-117
FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area)
South Waziristan,
Pakistan
9.5 x 1.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $160
With textbook perfection, a delicate, thin gem clear quartz displays the fadden habit and the central "string" running the entire length. Sharp and clean, this is a perfect example of this strange and uncommon Quartz form.
Far above average quality! A fine, bright Tsumeb miniature that is well crystallized and host loads of associated micro crystals. A few of the Cuprian Adamites are in the process of psudomorphing and being replaced by unknown minerals. Great color, sharpness and in perfect condition. These Adamites reach over 1 CM and cover the specimen densely.
The most exciting thing from recent finds in inner Mongolia is the rare Pink Fluorites with classic Alpine style that until now were only seen in Western Europe. The associates are similar to Alpine cleft minerals too, these have been quite uncommon so far and unfortunately often very expensive. This is a great example, the largest Fluorite is sharp, to 2.3 CM in size and perched on a contrasting mass of greenish quartz and associates. The Fluorites are in fine condition, a close look at the quartz crystals on the matrix finds some broken tips that are clearly not a distraction on this specimen. This is a tiny fraction of the price for an European example.
This is the color and form that makes Xuebaoding Scheelites the world's best! This top quality has become almost impossible to get in recent years. Great luster, red-orange color and fine contrast, the Scheelites have clear Fluorite cubes on some faces, and the matrix has micros of Fluorite and Euclase etc. Striking esthetics and form, the overall condition is perfect, the only damage of note is at the outer edges
Azurite
stock #Alec-3-165
Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Municipio de Santa Cruz
Sonora,
Mexico
4.4 x 4.3 CM (miniature)
price: $375
A big, bright Azurite single crystal with the "Milpillas" habit that shows excellent color. There is chipping on some edges, which keeps this priced very low for such a large and flashy crystal. Much better in person.
This is the best, brightest and most attractive Dioptase I have seen from the Christmas mine (best known for its Kinoites). It is a feast under magnification with bright slender crystals and lots of colorful associates set off by gemmy Calcites. Ex Mike Shannon Collection, this is in excellent condition damage wise (none!) and the color is much more intense than the monitor shows. Eye catching display quality.
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