Azurite with minor Malachite
stock #7.AE-209
Touissit, Touissit-Bou Beker Dist., Jerada Province
Oujada-Angad Province, Oriental Region,
Morocco
7 x 4.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
A cluster of highly lustrous sharp Azurites to 3.4 CM in size with scattered accents of green Malachite. From the 1980 vintage finds at Touissit, this is a very eye-catching and attractive example. The largest crystals are in excellent condition chipping and contacts do exist however that can not be seen from the main display angle. The luster is glass-like, far better than most Touissit pieces.
Skutterudite (large crystals on matrix)
stock #11.1-W60
Bouismas Mine, Bou Azzer District, Tazenakht
Ouarzazate Province,
Morocco
6.8 x 5.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Big (up to 4.2 cm), sharp shining metallic silver crystals clustered on matrix. Esthetic with better than average presentation, this is excellent specimen of this cobalt arsenide. Without doubt the Bou Azzer area produced the very best of the specie, prior to these the best were German, rare, expensive and far less pretty. The display side of this is in excellent condition. It is contacted on the right side and has damage at the rear where it was removed, not seen in normal display. This locality still produces a few good pieces every few years but it will not last forever. These are future classics especially when they are this good.
Rose Quartz (very large crystals)
stock #AC-361
Alto da Pitorra, Laranjeiras, Galleia, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
9.1 x 8 cm (cabinet)
price: $750
A big, very showy old time rose quartz with rare large well formed crystals. For some reason rose quartz prisms are nearly always little more than druse sized, a centemeter is sizable for the specie. On this specimen several crystals reach over 2 cm, most are quite gemmy and have attractive color. To add to the eye appeal, there are some crystals that have an orangeish hue, this seems to be cased by the color of parts of the matrix coming through the gem clear prisms. There is chipping damage to crystals at the outer perifery and some other chipping can be seen with magnification, but none of this is at all distracting. The condition is fine especially for such a large specimen. There is a small sawn area on the back that could be used as a base if desired, it is not at all visible from display angles. Vintage early 60's I have not seen anything quite this fine for sale in a very long time. Far better in person!
Fluorite (color-change complex)
stock #5.1-105
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
7.6 x 5.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $430
The sort of fine Fluorite that the Shangbao Mine has become world famous for. From finds in 2006, this habit has been found occasionally since and several large examples are known (and have sold for very high sums). This is simply a very esthetic smaller fluorite (3.3 CM) perched on crystallized dolomite with a few quartz crystals. Excellent condition, the fluorite also has a color change in different lighting from purple to blue. A very desirable and unique habit, in a relatively affordable specimen.
From the high elevations of Mt Xuebaoding (better known for Scheelites and Cassiterites), this ice-like fluorite shows the rare habit of octahedron with a cube face on the tip of each corner. The surface has the "melted" look the re-crystallization makes and has a pleasing esthetic. Ex Bert Ottens and Marty Zinn Collections, this type of Fluorite is no longer being found and is a great addition to any serious Fluorite suite.
Fluorite on Muscovite with Quartz
stock #11.1-W29
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
8.5 x 6.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $1600
There are thousands of Fluorites from the great Yaogangxian Mine, but very few are of this caliber. Incredible quality for the size and perfection. A single 4 CM glass clear, undamaged zoned cube sits on a 3 dimensional matrix perfectly. Top quality esthetics far better in person! This stands out from the rest and while it is a bit more pricey than average specimens, this quality is almost impossible to find in China today. The only comparable specimen I saw recently at a show was well over twice this price!
Rhodonite (large single crystal) with Galena
stock #8.AE-1049
Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
5.5 x 2.7 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $1400
Ex Fred Pough and G. Elling collections. A big, complete, dark-red crystal in pristine condition. Translucent with gemmy areas, the rhomb has the classic association of bright silvery Galena on all faces. A classic locale, the best of Broken Hill Rhodonite was unrivaled until the more recent finds in Peru. This is far better than average and with simply super esthetics. These are rarely found on the market today in sizes larger than thumbnails, this is exceptional.
The better Titanites from the remote Dodo Mine have become quite rare in this size and quality. Sharp, lustrous and fairly translucent to transparent crystals show classic twinning and sit well perched on the matrix. The main crystals are in excellent condition, fully undamaged. There are small broken crystals on the matrix that can be seen with close inspection but are not distracting. This keeps the price down yet this still displays well.
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