Proustite
stock #12.1-247
Imiter Mine, Imiter District, DjebelSaghro, Ouarzazate Province
Souss Massa Draa Region,
Morocco
3 x 2.9 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $750
Spring 2013
A very bright and very red crystallized ruby silver specimen from the great Imiter Mine in Morocco. This looks great on all sides and is a really attractive example of this "noble" mineral. Always uncommon especially in this quality, there may not be any more since the mine owners now strictly prohibit any collecting with some miners getting long jail terms.
Quartz v.
stock #A8-004
Stone Arabia Rd, Fonda,
New York,
United States
4.3 x 3.1 CM (miniature)
price: $380
Spring 2013
A really eye-catching, exceptionally clear Herkimer specimen, with a rather unusual esthetic from Fonda. The drusy quartz layers in this zone occasionally produce some wonderful things, this is a good example. The main herk is glass clear and 1.8 CM tall, in perfect condition with no inclusions at all. So clear it is really hard to photograph. This crystal has been reattached to the matrix as almost always is needed, but done perfectly, the fix is nearly invisible at 40X magnification. Lots of impact for the size.
A classic and esthetic piece from this significant but unproductive location. A great example of the specie as well. A solid heavy mass of botryoidal Psilomelane with brighter luster than is typical are covering clusters of Hematite strands and botryoids. Displays incredibly well for a mineral that is usually dull and ugly! Previous labels indicated Pseudo after wood, This is unlikely but the underlying structure LOOKS like wood.
Azurite Rosettes on Chrysocolla
stock #13.1-036
Morenci Mine, Copper Mt. District, Shannon Mts., Greenlee County
Arizona,
United States
4.6 x 2.8 CM (miniature)
price: $120
Spring 2013
A cute specimen in perfect condition (even with 10x magnification there is no damage) with 2 small but well formed azurite crystal rosettes sitting on 2 generations of botryoidal Chrysocolla. The matrix is a thin layer of the very desirable "gem silica" grade that is prized for cutting, this seems too thin a layer for that but it makes a nice visual contrast.
Cassiterite on Quartz
stock #Alec 12-417
Amo Mine, Ximeng
Yunnan,
China
4 x 3.3 CM (miniature)
price: $390
Spring 2013
The Amo mine in Ximeng county (Yunnan, China) used to produce a few spectacular Cassiterites. They were immediately prized and have practically disappeared. Unlike this mineral from any other location, these had a unique, recognizable style that could be very esthetic. This fine example is sharp, well formed, nicely perched on a cluster of quartz crystals that have some green inclusions as a bonus. The Cassiterites are gemmy and have the brightest possible luster (which makes them hard to photograph). In great condition there is contacting only on the back side not in view and very affordable for one of these.
Acanthite (chain growth of stacked octahedra)
stock #7FE- 171
Imiter Mine, Imiter District, DjebelSaghro, Ouarzazate Province
Souss- Massa- Draa Region,
Morocco
7.4 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
Spring 2013
Some of the weirdest habit Silver minerals and especially Acanthites have come out of Morocco from time to time. This is a very nice example with a sizable chain of oriented stacked octahedrons that displays very well. Somewhat crude as are all of these but undamaged and a complete floater. This came out over a decade ago. The new restrictions have cut off most everything from these great silver mines.
Grossualar (fine green color)
stock #Alec 14B-132
Wah Wah Mts, Beaver County
Utah,
United States
4.4 x 3.4 CM (miniature)
price: $485
Spring 2013
From an small, little known find several years ago from the locale better known for red beryl. This specimen hosts an estheticly perched, big (2cm) crystal with great luster and an unusually deep green color. Excellent contrast with the matrix, this crystal has been reattached, like every other example I've seen. This specimen has by far the best color of any I know and stands out well for the locality and the specie.
Axinite- Classic locale
stock #Alec-10-696
La Rampe des Commeres, Bourg d'Oisans, Isere
Rhone-Alpes,
France
2.4 x 2.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
Spring 2013
A sweet thumbnail of gemmy Axinites perched on a contrasting matix composed of micro crystals of phrenite, diopside etc. From the classic locality of Bourg d'Oisans, this has a lot of flash for its small size. Very affordable for a good, clean example of this classic!
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