A wonderful esthetic for a dark mineral like Bournonite is to be displayed on on colorful matix, and this piece does that well. Several sharp, prismatic and lustrous silvery crystals of Bournonite are well placed on a sparkling purple fluorite and quartz mixture. A few matted hairs of Boulangerite are in evidence as well. There is one Bournonite that is broken off (not very distracting tho) all the rest are quite clean by eye and only show some edge chips at 10X magnification. A very good matrix Yaoganxian piece and a good value.
Barite
stock #7-CNA-490
Xichang Mine, Liangshan Prefecture
Sichuan,
China
8.2 x 6.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
A fine and esthetic cluster of sizable (up to 7.9CM) sharp and lusterous barites. Multi phantoms and transluscent golden to brownish green tones set the main crystals off, and a mutitude of smaller crystals decorate the larger prisms. These were mined in 2003-4 and have disappeared since then, the vast majority had substantial damage. This is a rareity in that it has very little damage (some broken tiny sidegrowth crystals and minor edge wear, chipping of the larger crystals) it displays well and nothing is badly distracting. This locality is one of the most important recent finds and a must for a good Barite suite or any Chinese collection.
"Sugar Frosted" Fluorite on Quartz
stock #5.1-057.3
Xianghuapu Mine, Linwu, Chenzhou District
Hunan,
China
12.6 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Super attractive and with wonderful presentation! This thin plate of matrix has a chain of sharp light green cubes up to 3.7 cm perched with a sparkling frosting of micro quartz crystals making it look like a collection of sugar cubes. On a few spots the coating has chipped off and the glassy green cubes are seen below the frost. Overall in outstanding condition, there is only periferal edge damage of not and it is not seen in most logical display orientations. We obtained this in 2003 from a small find at Xinghuapu I have not seen any since.This is a very different and attractive specimen!
Epidote on Byssolite
stock #AC 204
Knappenwand, Untersulzbachal Valley
Hohe Tauern Mts. Salzburg,
Austria
7.2 x 4.8 CM (small cabinet/large miniature)
price: $45
From the historic and most highly regarded locality for Epidote this is a good example of the byssolite association and an inexpensive way to own a true classic! The Epidotes reach 1.5 CM set on a sparkling mound of Byssolite fibers. There is damage on the epidotes, they are not the gemmy crystals this locale is known for, but the Byssolite is very attractive. This piece is from a 1930's vintage collection and is very reasonably priced.
SOLD Danburite Crystals on Matrix SOLD
stock #SOLD 8.1-296
Near Russell, St Lawrence County
New York,
United States
6.6 x 4.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $300
Ex Sorbonne Collection and the Elmer Rowley collection, this is the most attractive New York Danburite I have seen. An excellent example (collected 1951 according to the Rowley label) there are many sharp, lustrous and even transparent crystals to 1.4 CM, quite clean of damage, these are virtually never available for sale . While not as showy as Mexican specimens, these are far rarer and the best Danburites ever found in the US and very rare.
Blue Spinel
stock #AC-259
Von Aoker
,
Sweden
7x5.4 (cabinet)
price: $65
A sizable old location piece with a Dr. Krantz in Bonn label (a little different than most Krantz labels we have seen) there are several sharp octaherdral crystals etched from a calcite matrix. This is not a highly esthetic piece but it is a classic vintage and it does show the blue to purple octahedrons well.
Pyrargyrite
stock #8.1-292
Pohla Mine, Schwarzenberg District
Erzgebirge, Saxony,
Germany
3.2x 2.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $300
A super fine, nearly pure crystalized mass of sharp pyrargyrite crystals from this classic location. The individual crystals reach 6mm, are lustrous and clean of damage even under strong magnification. Some red flashes and highlights can be seen still despite the obvious age of the piece and the crystals will look black to silvery at a quick glance. A really fine small piece!
Pyromorphite
stock #8.1-294
Bad Ems
Lahn Valley, Rhineland-Palatinate,
Germany
4.2 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $300
A fine, old, lusterous and esthetic pyro from one of the most classic locations of all, Bad Ems. This is also a classic form as it shows the stacked chain like growth of the individual crystals that flare to form a tree like structure. Good rich orange to dark salmon color and minimal damage that is clearly not distracting. These have been increasing in price and some quite damaged examples are currently on offer for far more than this piece.
