Grossular Garnet (chromian var. Tsavorite)
stock #8.1-438
Mine Lac dAmiante (Black Lake Mine), Megantic County
Quebec,
Canada
6 x 4.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $400
Electric emerald green crystals to 5mm densly cover the matrix of this fine Canadian specimen. Chrome Grossular or Tsavorite Garnets are rare in general and even rarer in sizable specimens. This one is brilliant with the best deep emerald color and glasslike luster. Most crystals are perfect and some show phantoms of a deeper green core in a lighter green exterior.
A brilliant thumbnail of electric green gem garnets on matrix. For intense color and luster this is really as good as any of these can get. The largest crystal is 7mm, about the biggest size that can still have such a deep green color. Displays great, we have not seen any of this quality for many years !
Serpierite with Ktenasite
stock #8 GRC-1006
Kamereza Mines, Aglos Konstantinos
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!
If you are familiar with Kesterites, this should take your breath away! A world class single crystal (a full inch in size!) that is both incredibly huge for the specie, and also remarkably sharp! This is by far the largest single crystal I have seen though I have heard of one other in this size range, Kesterite is very rare, and the Xuebaoding discovery has yielded the worlds best specimens. This one is in a class by itself, much like a textbook model. The large octahedron is contacted on the backside but the front is complete and has great patina. Collected about 6 years ago, there is no more coming now from the area, this will rank as a truly great piece.
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.
