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.
Dioptase
stock #8.1-295
Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Central Area
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
8.9 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
An incredibly attractive mineral! Brilliant and lustrous crystals to 1.5CM with top color are packed in a vug that is rimmed with Dioptase and some blue Shattuckite. No damage to the display area and main crystals but there are a few tiny contacts at the outer edge of the piece that are not easilly seen. Really a killer for form and with bright, wet looking luster, this is a great value for the price. I have not seen anything of this quality in any recent lots from the DRC.
A true classic, these older Variscites from the excavations by Ed Over are the gold standard for these and many other phosphate minerals. This is a large, thick slab polished on both sides with several vugs filled with micro xls and showing lots of distinctive muti-replacements, color zones and fortifications. Good examples are now very rare and this is good. There is a small section of the edge rind that is missing on what would be the base where the piece sits. That is not distracting for display but it keeps the price down. This is really a steal for such a fine piece!!
A large and superb gemmy scepter crystal with internal movable bubbles. The head is glass clear, with light smokey color, and razor sharp. This also has milky white stem for contrast and overall in in super shape. For the size (4 " tall) it is remarkable to have such clarity and condition. We have seen and sold a lot of fine Cong Ly quartz but this ranks as a top piece for this locale and a very fine scepter for anyplace! We originally sold this piece and it has returned in a trade deal, it was obtained on our Fall 2002 trip to China, we have not been able to get any material of this quality for the past 3 years.
