From a small find in the 1970's this calcite is very esthetic and colorful. The matrix is a sparkling white to light yellow druse of Calcite covered with hills of deep red to black drusy crystals. A single later generation clear crystal is perched on one side and all is well-arranged and eye-catching. A very pretty display quality specimen that is uncommon, unusual, undamaged and still affordably priced.
Grossular (Raspberry Garnet)
stock #10.1-276
Lago de Jaco,Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
7x6.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $300
A very fine example of the recent finds at this classic location! An esthetic 'Mountain" of matrix hosts several deep red Grossular crystals up to 2.2 CM. The "summit" is a well exposed sharp 1.7 CM crystal that presents well from all sides. The major crystals are in excellent condition, the backside has some missing/ broken crystals from the area where the matrix was removed, these are not seen from any display angle. Much better than average!
Grossular (Raspberry Garnet)
stock #10.1-274
Lago de Jaco,Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
6.6 x 4.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $340
From 2009 mining at this classic Mexican location, this is a far better than average example of this rare garnet variant. The main crystal here is 2.3 CM across, very lustrous, dark raspberry-red and in pristine condition. This is quite sizable for the locality and has been carefully exposed so it sits well on the matrix. Some minor crystals have typical damage that shows the dark core of the garnets. Since 1920 these garnets have sporadically been available but good ones have always been rare.
A cluster of intergrown, rich deep green gem crystals perched on a crystalline matrix. From the major find made in 2006, these were quickly absorbed into the market and disappeared. A very esthetic example of this uncommon variant, the largest crystal is 1.5 cm and is perched on other crystals. Far better in person! These show complex, lustrous faces and are undamaged.
A rare variation of the classic British Campylite from Dry Gill, this small, esthetic piece features a curved chain of Mimetite crystals. Lustrous and in excellent condition damage-wise, the chain has a central hollow canal running its length. The matrix also hosts small botryoidal crystals of yellow, green and orange Mimetite. A fine small miniature!
A quite sizable (7.9 CM) and impressive Chinese Emerald with the typical color from this find. This Beryl is not gemmy except on thin edges and not colored by Chromium as are the Colombian Emeralds. Despite that this is still attractive and affordable. The crystal has been repaired (1x) and shows also a natural break and re-healing. A very good addition to a suite of Beryl, Chinese minerals or just as an attractive display piece.
A great multi specie Rhodochrosite and Silver piece that has lots to look at! The Rhodo rhomb is 1.6 CM in size, sharp with rich red color. It is resting on a mass of crystallized Sulfide minerals, Sphalerite and Acanthite being the main ones and has native Silver in wires and curling clusters scattered. The rare associations are well presented, few Wudong area Rhodos have Silver associated, and few of those are esthetic.
Azurite with minor Malachite
stock #4.2-539
Tongshan Mine, Guichi Dist., Chizhou Pref.
Anhui Province,
China
7.4 x 6.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $140
A big, bright blue sparkling specimen with Azurite crystals densely packed on the display faces. The copper deposits in this area of Anhui province have been mined for thousands of years, probably the longest continuous operation on earth. Small scale mining lets specimens escape the huge crushers that are used elsewhere. Very attractive and affordable.
