Mimetite on Philipsbornite
stock #8.AE-991
Hat Yai District
Songkhlei Province,
Thailand
4.3 x 3 CM (miniature)
price: $350
A very fine example of the better quality Mimetite that had come from this area of Southern Thailand. There has been no more of this for several years and the area is considered unworkable now due to political problems. This is a lustrous sparkling miniature of glassy yellow crystals. This location is one of a very few great localities for crystallized Mimetite worldwide. Like most others (Tsumeb, Pingtouling etc.) Hat Yai no longer produces anything. Good specimens are fast becoming classics, and this is one.
Serpierite with Ktenasite
stock #8.AE-1006
Kamariza Mines, Aglos Konstantinos, Laviron Mining District, Lavreotiki
Attiki Prefecture Laurion District,
Greece
10.7 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $200
A bright, sparkling and very 3 dimensional piece of these two rare minerals from the classic locality of Laurion. Excellent coverage and color. Serpierite is a sky blue hydrated sulfate and the mid member of the Deviline and Rapidcreekite series. It is nice to have a rare mineral that is also cabinet sized and pretty since this is usually available just as micro specimens!
Galena on Sphalerite with Calcite
stock #8.1-437
Krushev Dol Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
12 x 9.3 x 6.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
This is simply a superb and esthetic piece with a killer arrangement! The base is a rosette like cluster of lusterous dark sphalerite crystals that are epitaxially encrusted with pearly calcites that add contrast and sparkle. Atop that is a mirror bright compound Galena cluster. There is some contacting on the back of the sphalerite where it was removed, but there is absolutely no damage on the display side. The main Galena is quite large -(7 cm at the widest point), it has fantastic bright lusterous faces. The stepped form and a few "melted" zones are what help set this apart. From almost any other locality this would be FAR more expensive, but since Madan is currenly very productive this is a superb bargain and a wise investment!
Ferberite with Fluorite and Muscovite
stock #6.2-883
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
5.8 x 3.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $450
A superb and esthetic Yaogangxian combo piece! The ferberites are razor sharp, super lustrous and undamaged perfectly perched on gemmy glass-like purple fluorite and balls of well crystallized Muscovite. Other than a corner cleave on one fluorite on the outer edge of the right side, this is pristine. For such delicate and slender crystals this is a rarity and certainly of competition caliber. The Ferberite looks a lot like more Azurite at a glance it is so lustrous with the uncommon tabular habit.
Illustrated specimen from the recent Min. Record article on Variscite! From the great early finds by Ed Over in Fairfield, Utah, this is an attractive nodule of colorful and uncommon phosphates. Most pieces like this were sawn and polished to show off the zoning and fortifications, it is rather hard to find a good natural nodule. Very nice colors and loaded with micros, this is classic material and a very good example.
A sizable matrix plate is the host for 5 main octahedra of pale pink Fluorite. A few smaller crystals are also included. The crystals reach 1.8 cm and are sharp, undamaged and distinct. From a brief period of productivity in Chumar Bakhoor, there has not been new finds for the past 2-3 years. Good pink Fluorite is uncommon and sought after. With few exceptions the best pinks have all come from Alpine clefts which by their nature are small and hard to find. This is such an Alpine piece, the color is not the most treasured deep pink, but it is still quite good and very well composed. Priced very well for the quality, rarity and size.
Another classic Bisbee association, in an unusually fine specimen this is almost all native Copper in crude crystals. The Copper is a pseudomorph after Cuprite, with some unaltered zones and small Cuprite octahedrons that still have red color. Fibrous crystallized Malachite sprays add a rich green color. Magnification reveals some Calcite that is green colored due to the Copper. The definition of this piece is excellent, it is quite old it was sold by Schortmanns in the 60's and comes with that old label.
Galena on Quartz
stock #8.1-396
Krushev Dol Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
7.1 x 5.7 (cabinet)
price: $380
Another gem from Madan, this is a shining Galena with outstanding form on a greenish Quartz matrix. This large crystal (5.9 cm) has excellent hoppering on the triangular faces and the luster is fine. Sits well for display, there is no damage or chipping on the display face it is contacted in the back. It is possible to see a hairline crack in part of the Galena which is common at this locality, it is not damage per se but likely a side effect of cooling. If you like Galena you should love this one it is different and esthetic!
