Liddicoatite (tourmaline family)
stock #9.1-372
Gaoligong Shan, Baoshan Prefecture
Yunnan,
China
4.5 x 3.5 CM (miniature)
price: $180
A small but very beautiful Tourmaline with sharp gem crystals well placed on the pegmatite matrix. Crystals reach 1.3 CM and have good color zoning, with deep red cores. A few Chinese tourmalines have trickled out from this region, few are more than reference pieces, this is far better than those. We hope for great finds in the future, but for now this is a good piece and affordable.
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 crystalized 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.
Orpiment on Matrix
stock #8.1-169
Shimen (Jiepiayu) Mine
Hunan,
China
6.1 x 6.1 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $160
An esthetic cluster of deep orange Orpiment crystals sprouts from a contrasting matrix. There have been lots of Orpiment crystals from Shimen, but not much is really interesting. This piece has character and sits well, no damage and nice form. Aside from Shimen and the defunct Twin Creek mine, Orpiment in good crystals is very rare and never this size.
SOLD Cerargyrite with Native Silver etc
stock #SOLD 0277-JM-3360
Breckenridge, Summit Co.
Colorado,
United States
5.8 x 4.4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $200
A fine old silver specimen that is nearly a solid mass of yellow-green crusts and crystals. Micro silver and sulfides are also evident. Old Wards label gives only the county location, Breckenridge was listed by John Marshall as the more precise locality. Rich and heavy piece.
A very old and good example of well crystallized New Mexican Vanadinite in fine yellow prisms. There are 3 generations showing different forms on this piece, most are very sharp and lusterous. This piece dates to the late 1800's and was sold via the famous Foote minerals in Paris. Old labels included, a fine older western US specimen!
Spessartine (garnet)
stock #7CNA-395
Tongbei, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou Prefecture
Fujian,
China
10 x 6.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $185
The great finds of Spessartine at Tongbei have redefined the specie. Incredibly productive, these ridges have produced huge numbers of specimens. Amidst many medicre pieces a small percentage are very good. Those are destined to be classics and increase in value (mining is rumored to be winding down). This is a densely covered piece, undamaged, with rich, bright color, fine luster and visual impact. Much better than average, this is a very good value.
Baja California,
Mexico
11 x 7.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
Simply a superb example from these old find, this is a fine, esthetic, large and pristine piece. Crystal sprays reach nearly 3 CM in a seam of crystalized orthoclase. Micros that appear to be Vesuvianite are noted also, but the main thing is the Epidote. Great color contrast, the lustrous fans of deep green crystals contrast with the pinkish feldspar. An excellent display piece of 1950 or earlier vintage.
