Rhodochrosite with Aegirine and Natrolite
stock #23.1-150
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
5.3 x 4.8 x 3.8 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $450
A complex multi-specie specimen that is about 90 percent Rhodochrosite with dark red color. The Rhodo is in rhombic crystals many of which are intergrown with or contacted by other species. The red color and luster is quite deep and vivid for a Mont St. Hilaire Rhodochrosite. Some parts of these crystals are gemmy being transparent in areas but most are translucent. Rhodos from here are usually dull, less red, more pink to brownish or have a flattened twinning habit. A modern Canadian classic.
SOLD Grossular -Gem Garnet with minor Diopside
stock #SOLD AX-16-549
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
5.1 x 3 x 2.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $0
Bright, super lustrous and gem-clear crystals of Grossular on matrix. The great Jeffrey mine produced huge numbers of Garnet specimens but only a small percentage were really choice and even fewer were so clear and bright as these. The main crysal on this piece is just under 1 CM, perfect and nicely striated. This specimen is a quite good value as these are getting both scarce and expensive.
Lazulite
stock #AX-27-011
Rapid Creek, Dawson Mining District
Yukon Territory,
Canada
7.5 x 4.9 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
A choice and very lustrous deep royal blue cluster of Lazulite crystals on matrix from the incredible find at Rapid Creek (Yukon, Canada) about 15 years ago. In fine condition as seen, this specimen is all Lazulite on the display face, some specimens were mixed with other Phosphate minerals but this one is pure blue. The crystals are 5-8mm or so in size, a bit larger than most, and these are free standing with very clearly defined form. One of the great collectable species of western Canada, and perhaps the world’s best examples of this specie come from this find. A very eye-catching piece this is much nicer in person too.
Apatite on Fluoro Richterite
stock #24.1-635
Otter Lake, Pontiac County
Quebec,
Canada
7.1 x 4.7 x 2.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $200
Great specimen of a well-formed "Grenville Grunge" specie. So called by the dedicated collectors of the dark minerals found in the skarns of the Grenville Marbles (Precambrian Metamorphics). A cluster of complete, terminated Fluororichterite crystals is the matrix for yellow to orange color Apatite. The color of the Apatite is a bit unusual as most are more green to brown. The largest Fluororichterite is doubly terminated and 5.1 CM long. Many of the dark Amphiboles in this region are hard to identify accurately. This find was x ray checked by Dr. Joe Mandarino in the 1990 era when this zone was uncovered by Skylar Alverson. This was one of Skylar’s collection specimens. A very nice esthetic composition even if many think of dark Amphiboles as "grunge"!
Grossular - Gem crystals on Pectolite
stock #AX-32-066
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
4.3 x 2.5 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $3300
Over several decades many fine Grossular have come from the Jeffrey Mine, but very few are truly gem crystals. This is an exceptionally fine and rare specimen with outstanding clarity, especially vivid color and top luster. The matrix is also much less common, a mass of Pectolite crystals that adds a contrast in texture and color. The Garnets are clear enough to see through to the matrix below. We have worked with many fine Jeffrey Garnets but very few of this quality ever. This is not at all typical of the deposit and is better in person as well. In excellent condition as seen with only some small internal cleaves not visible from most angles. Those would be fully invisible if this was not such a gem clear specimen. A excellent Garnet from anyplace and very fine for the Jeffrey Mine.
An outstanding assemblage of well-crystalized uncommon minerals from the famed Mt St. Hilaire. The large pink Schizolite crystals are slightly radiating and reach over 5 CM. Schiziolite from this locality had been misidentified for decades as Serandite, which also is found there. The Kupletskite is in two forms thin blades in sprays and larger more blocky crystals. The Calcioancylite is less noticeable in very tiny white crystals. Attractive and uncommon species are well-presented in this well-crystalized Alkaline assemblage.
Rhodochrosite with Aegirine
stock #23.1-727
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
2.8 x 2.7 x 2.4 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $180
Pre Tucson
Rhodochrosite crystals clustered with a few slender Aegirine piecing the flat Rhombs. Classic form from Mt St. Hilaire showing the triangular shapes and flattened rhombs that are well-known from this amazing mine. I very good condition, no eye-visible damage and really no matrix either.
Vesuvianite - Gem crystal
stock #17.1-440
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.6 x 1.6 x 1.5 CM (miniature)
price: $3300
Pre Tucson
Vivid color and glassy faces with well-defined striations, this crystal is nearly all transparent and in perfect condition. The color is a bright asparagus green and has a purple to red core. In person the termination looks like a faceted gem, the luster is so bright it is hard to convey in photos. The Vesuvianites from Jeffrey Mine are unique in the world, famed for the colors and perfection. There were quite a few good ones found a few decades ago but very fine crystals like this were never common. Today we see very few and always at very high prices. This is from the F. Spertini collection (the mine geologist for whom Spertiniite is named) and is far better in person with a top display impact. No damage at all. Even on the bottom where it had been naturally broken inside the pocket long ago it is fully healed and re-crystalized. So technically this is doubly terminated and a floater.
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