Malachite (fibrous primary crystals)
stock #8.1-188
Katanga, Central Area, Katanga Coper zone
Shaba,
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
8.5 x 5.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $95
A fine, fibrous crystallized primary malachite from the prolific mines of Katanga. Excellent color, satin sheen and luster, no damage. Malachite crystals over 3 CM abound. The recent finds of this material have been well appreciated, affordable and very attractive. Not all fine minerals are expensive!
Grossular (gem Garnet)
stock #11.1 -W63
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos
Quebec,
Canada
7.4 x 6.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $1950
The type of incredible garnet that made the Jeffrey Mine famous. A sizable matrix specimen with dozens of sharp, gem clear crystals that reach 1.5 CM. Top color and glass-like luster. Most crystals are fully perfect with delicate striations but there is damage or contacting on some crystals with most chipping at the edges and backside. Despite that, the overall impact is outstanding, and the cost is far less than the astronomic prices that fully perfect pieces command.
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: $850
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!
A killer small cabinet that would be fine from anyplace, but is just incredible for China! Remarkably, this is absolutely perfect with no damage to any of the gem clear crystals (up to 3.9CM tall)that are neatly positioned on the matrix hill. There are no inclusions, cleaves, milky zones or any "issues" which are typical. Best described as colorless although a very faint hint of sherry color can be seen. At first glance this looks like a quartz due to the clarity! This could be trimmed to make a top competition grade miniature but I leave that choice to its next owner. Looks even better in person.
Zincocalcite (Zincoan Calcite) on Geothite
stock #8-AUS 1056
Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
6.1 x 3.5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $390
A very rare variant, this mineral is only identified from a few localities, and this is an unusually esthetic and pristine example. From the classic Broken Hill location over 40 years old, these scalenohedrons are up to 8 mm in size, scattered on a contrasting black geothite matrix. The milky opaque crystals are in excellent condition, with magnification 10x I can find cleaves on some edge crystals but otherwise perfect.
Barite on Fluorite, Sphalerite and Galena
stock #0213-JM-3146
Mahoning#1 Mine, (Minerva #1 Mine) Cave in Rock Subdustrict, Hardin Coun
Illinois,
United States
7 x 5.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $385
An esthetic 2 tone (blue and creme) flowerlike display of barite crystals perched on a contrasting matrix of dark purple fluorite crystals and dark red-brown Sphalerite. Beautiful, old classic stuff, Ex John Marshall collection. By naked eye this is perfect damagewise, only with 10x magnification one tiny corner bruise can be found. In short this is really a fine specimen that shows very well and is now quite uncommon in any condition on todays market.
Intense green gem grade crystal with complex multi-faced termination and prism faces. Micro crystals of graphite, mesolite and axinite are a bonus. In great condition, an excellent example from the mines best known for Tanzanites. This specimen has much deeper "neon electric" color than most and is best seen in person.
Fluorite (color change complex
stock #8.1-105.3
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan,
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.
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