Bournonite cogswheel
stock #6.2-891
Yaogangxian Tungsten Mine, Yizhang County
Hunan,
China
3.4 x 2.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $400
We have all seen a lot of Bournonite from Yaoganxian, some is world class, but most has a lot of serious damage. Clean examples of this brittle mineralare quite rare, and to find a nearly pristine "cogswheel" type that is crystalized all around (floater) is very special. This complex cluster has excellent mirror bright metallic luster, great form and esthetics. Very careful examination shows a few hard to find chips all under 1 mm in size, not distracting at all. For some reason, there have been more single, prismatic type crystals from Yaogangxian, this example looks much more English than Chinese! Super reasonable !
Fine pink to honey color gem garnets in a dense cluster on matrix. Crystals to 8mm showing excellent luster., from the classic and now famous Jeffrey Mine. Some assocated vesuvianite and micro diopside too. Minimal damage, except at the edges where removed, this is a nice yet affordable older piece from the 60's.
Galena on Sphalerite with Calcite
stock #8.1-437
Krushev Dol Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
,
Bulgaria
12 x 9.3 x 6.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1500
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!
A world class piece that is incredibly crystallized with top quality, sharp, brilliant blue translucent lazurites to 1.2 CM. Scattered clear quartz help set these off as do the honey colored siderites that are also gemmy. Some micro crystals that appear to be augelite are also present, but not confirmed. Overall this is in fantastic shape with killer esthetics. Careful examination finds some minor broken crystals mostly at the edges, not at all distracting or easily seen. This is also very well crystallized on all sides and can be show from several angles with good effect. The lazulite from here is the best ever found and top pieces are now getting very scarce.
SOLD Wulfenite with Mimetite
stock #SOLD 8- ARIZ-990
Rowley Mine, (Reliance Mine), Theba, Painted Rock District
Arizona,
United States
4.3 x 3.1 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $160
Fine and colorful wulfenite windowpanes on a small minature / large toenail. The matrix is a dense cluster of intergrown Barite crystals and gossan that are well covered with Mimetite in both crystal sprays and botryoidal clusters. Scattered on that are several sharp transparent orange wulfenites, the largest reaching 1.3 CM. No damage is visibly to my naked eye, at 10x magnification I can find some very minor edge chipping. Under the microscope this piece is really amazing with lots of color, form and sparkle! A great American locality and a fine little Wulfenite at a very affordable price.
A neatly formed and classic Elbaite mushroom in bubblegum pink. A sharp example excellent condition. There is damage only on the base and rear area where it was removed from the matrix. That is not visible from the display side which is completly undamaged. Excellent translucency and form, this is a very good value for this uncommon type of tourmaline!
Ferberite with Fluorite and Muscovite
stock #6.2-883
Yaogangxian Tungsten Mine, Yizhang County
Hunan,
China
5.8 x 3.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $550
A superb and esthetic Yaoganxian combo piece! The ferberites are razor sharp, super lusterous and undamaged perfectly perched on gemmy glasslike purple fluorite and balls of well crystalized 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 lusterous with the uncommon tabular habit.
Fluorite on Dolomite and Quartz
stock #6.2-184
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan,
China
7.3 x 5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $160
Something different in a Chinese Fluorite! This is an unusual and somewhat rare form of Flourite from Shangbao. It is also in perfect condition which is also rare! The usual forms for this mine are edge modified cubes, however this piece is different. These modified cubes form one or more faces as fully flat planes with no edge modifications on that plane while all the other have them. I have seen a few examples but only from 2 mines, both in China. I have not heard any explanation of this phenomena. Even at 10X magnification, the fluorites show no damage, they are gemmy, so clear and you can see the matrix thru them. The largest is 1.8 CM and there is a good contrast with the matrix. Not just another Chinese Fluorite! This can be trimmed to a large miniature, we will do this if the buyer requests.
