From the last of the good Shangbao fluorite finds of 2005. These are the jewel like cubooctahedral crystals that are most sought after. The purple color changes to blue under some light sources. Great clarity and perfect condition on this piece, These fluorites are unique to this mine and now are valued highly in China it is hard to find such a pristine and esthetic specimen.
Mimetite
stock #7 CNA-434
Pingtouling Mine, Liannan, Sanjiang
Guangdong,
China
4.3 x 3 CM (small miniature)
price: $350
A very fine small miniature or toenail of excellent quality. The Pingtouling Mine mimetites are legendary and considered by many to be the best ever found. The mine has been closed for years and nothing new found since. This has fine color and form, displays well and is priced below market levels
Cerussite (cuprian)
stock #7-13 CR-527
Daoping Lead-Zinc Mine, Yangshao
Guanxi,
China
8.7 x 6 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
A very fine and showy Cerussite from the Daoping lead mine, better known for the world class Pyromorphites it has produced. Parts of this piece are the cuprian variety showing bright green crystals while other areas are yellow to clear. Displays well and has some crystals reaching a centimeter. Not often available in any quality and rarely this esthetic!
An unusual, delicate and elegant combination piece from Yaoganxian. This has hundreds of silvery needle crystals of Boulangerite contrasting with rich golden Chalcopyrite and needle quartz which is half clear and half an olive green. Despite the delicacy this is in fine condition, This is an esthetic addition to any collection but a must for a Yaoganxian suite.
Sphalerite on Quartz
stock #7 CNA-492
Shuikoushan Lead Zinc Mine, Kangjianwan, Changning
Hunan,
China
13 x 10.6 (cabinet)
price: $500
Deep red complex crystals of Sphalerite sit on a plate of sparkling reddish quartz. Some are claiming the quartz is red due to inclusions of Sphalerite, I am not sure about that. There is galena here too and the back of the piece is crystalized calcite. The largest crystal is 3.3 cm and with good backlight it glows a rich red. No damage and great luster, this looks like globs of jelly on matrix. Way above average!!
An oddity that is also attractive, this Yaogangxian piece is unique in my experience. A jumbled cluster of quartz crystals some doubly terminated and up to 7.9 CM long are encrusted with several secondary minerals including muscovite, goethite, pyrite, calcite dolomite and arsenopyrite. The most important coating however is on several crystals covered with sparkling purple Fluorites. There are some broken quartz mostly on the area I see as the base, but it displays well as a very different, colorful and complex piece. Yaoganxian has provided many surprises, this is one.
Fluorite
stock #7CNA -457
Xinghauling mine, Linwu
Hunan,
China
13 x 11 CM (cabinet)
price: $375
The large Octahedron here is over 7 CM, undamaged, lustrous and esthetically perched with others on a contrasting matrix . The crystalas all show the "micro stepping" being composed of hundreds of tiny fluorite crystals that are arranged together in the octahedra. A deep green that can backlight well, this piece is a very fine example of an older style of fluorite from Xinghauling not often available anymore.
Rhodochrosite with quartz
stock #8.1-042
Wuzhou Prefecture, Guanxi Province
Guanxi,
China
6.6x6.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $1900
A very fine Chinese rhodo, from the 2007 pocket at Wuzhou, these were the best found at that time, and a different style than those found in later mining. The color and clarity are easily confused with some Sweet Home material. Deep color and esthetics with the largest Rhomb 2.2 CM. Typical of this mine there are micro xls of fluorite and acanthite as well as eye visible pyrites, but the real reason to display this is the Rhodochrosite. Overall in fine shape, no noticable damage, we have noticed that the red color is more intense under some types of lighting. This is a fraction of the price that a comparable Colorado piece would go for!
