Beryl var. Aquamarine - gemmy USA Classic
stock #15.1-686
Mount Antero, Chaffee County
Colorado,
United States
2.4 x 1 x .9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $390
Early summer 2021
A very clear, sharp and lustrous Aquamarine collected in the 1940's by Warren Johannson. From the famed Mt Antero location which is a magnificent, high elevation pegmatite. In fine condition this is a pale green-blue color and fully transparent.
Brochantite
stock #AX-3-413
Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Municipio de Santa Cruz
Sonora,
Mexico
3.3 x 2.3 x 1.6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $260
Early summer 2021
A sizable thumbnail of Brochantite from the earliest find at Milpillas. This has the mixture of very slender hairlike crystals and the more stout, thicker ones. Excellent color and condition. We saw very few good thumbnails sized pieces of Brochantite from Milpillas as most were quite large. The Brochantites found at this locale were quickly hailed as world-class and set new standards. This small piece is a choice example that is a perfect, tiny part of this important discovery.
Staurolite - Historic specimens
stock #21.1-067-(2954)
Mine Hill
Georgia,
United States
2.8 x 2.2 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $150
Early summer 2021
A pair of sharp, complete Staurolite crystals that were added to the Levison Collection in 1898. These are labeled as from from Mine Hill, Georgia. This not a known locale but these do look much like some of the more recent Fannin County materials. One is twinned and the other is a single crystal, sharp textbook form. A photocopy of the Levison Ledger page is included as is his printed and handwritten label with the date.
Elbaite
stock #20.1-279
Santa Rosa Mine, Itambacuri
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
2.6 x 1.3 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
new year 2021
A zoned green flat top terminated Elbaite crystal from old finds at Santa Rosa. The crystal has good glassy luster, moderate transparency and only one small .5 mm chip. Weighs 7.4 Grams, this is priced below typical market rates. Pretty, affordable tourmaline that glows well when backlit.
A historic specimen of Lazulite crystals well-exposed on a small matrix. The second photo includes the original label from Charles U. Sheppard Jr which indicates this was from a brief period of mining at this site specifically for mineral specimens. Sheppard's father was one of the great early USA mineralogists, he studied this deposit and published in 1856. His son (Jr.) later was a part owner and mined this locality for the international specimen trade and exchange with institutions. Sheppard Jr died in 1915, though the specimen is likely over 150 years old. This Lazulite thumbnail has several crude crystals on it the largest and best is 1.6 CM tall and covers much of the front or display side. This locality produced a very few exceptional world class Lazulite; this one is not that exceptional but is certainly above average and has the rare original label that dates back to one of the first specimen mining operations in the USA. An affordable and nice classic.
Cubanite - classic twinned crystals
stock #AX-29-091
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Quebec,
Canada
2 x 1.3 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $1400
new year 2021
Cubanite twin crystals in a cluster with virtually no matrix. In fine condition as seen, such good Cubanite crystals have become quite rare as it has been over two decades since the last of this world class find. This one shows excellent golden luster and form, the largest crystal is a full sixling twin. It is very unlikely there will ever be more of this quality found. There are several localities in the world for this mineral but any crystals are very rare and almost all are micros. These Canadian specimens are the by a wide margin the best in the world, and good twins are especially scarce now.
Wulfenite on Dolomite
stock #19.1-267
Tsumeb
Otjikoto Region,
Namibia
2.3 x 1.8 x 1.6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $250
new year 2021
Wulfenite in isolated crystals are nicely perched in tiny Dolomite crystals. The Wulfenite habit is the beveled edge type with a lustrous orange color. A choice thumbnail from the William Severance collection (his label is included). Bill has always had excellent taste and high standards for esthetics, and this piece shows that good taste well. Tsumeb has been the source of many forms of Wulfenite but this particular style, color, habit and overall look is unique to Tsumeb and instantly recognizable.
Tangeite (Calcio-Volborthite)
stock #21.1-044
Kayenta, Navajo County
Arizona,
United States
2.8 x 2.2 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $90
new year 2021
Colorful thumbnail of this uncommon Copper-Vanadium specie from Arizona. This specie was known as Calcio-Volborthite for many years but is now renamed Tangeite after this was re-described from an older type locale in Kyrgyzstan. Well-formed crystals on contrasting matrix that are especially vivid under the microscope. This mining area close to Monument Valley has several small old workings which were sources as far back as the late 19th century.
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