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.
Andradite - Demantoid
stock #22.1-696
Black Lake, Thetford Mines, Les Appalaches, RCM
Quebec,
Canada
5.5 x 5.3 x 23.1 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $550
Pre Tucson
A fine mint green Garnet crystal with the unusual and quite rare flattened habit sits atop the matrix of druzy Andradites. The main crystal is just over 1.1 CM across and is complete, undamaged and in tabular form. From the finds at Black Lake (Quebec, Canada) about 20 years ago, this is far above the average quality known from this important locality. Black Lake Quarry was not very far from the larger and more famed Jeffrey Mine, but had a somewhat different mineralization. More Andradite than Grossular Garnets are known from here and the predominant color was green Demantoid. Good specimens of this quality are quite rare on the market, much less common than Jeffrey Garnet. In excellent condition.
Rhodochrosite with Elpidite etc.
stock #23.1-151
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
3.7 x 2.6 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $690
A superb small miniature or "toenail" with a sharp triagonal Rhodochrosite perched on top. In excellent condition the Rhodo is the classic form from Mont St. Hilaire, and has the triagonal center hopper in the center of the largest crystal. Lots of additional micro crystals and species are on the specimen but the Rhodochrosite is really the dominant focal point, it is 2.2 CM across and has very good color. What looks like chipping or damage on a top edge is actually well crystalized with tiny step faces. The Rhodochrosites of Mt St Hilaire took several forms but the triagonal crystals are still the most distinctive and are incredibly rare at all other localities. This specimen was found more than 30 years ago, they were never common and there is nothing now. Classic and esthetic!
A salmon pink to orange crystal of Serandite which is complete and doubly terminated. Choice single crystal with fine provenance. This also has a druse of tiny clear Behoite crystals on some faces. Good luster, form and color. From the noted collections of Elmer B. Rowley, William Hladysz and the New York Sate Museum mineral collection with number NYSM 10633. That label is included, the specimen was collected over 60 years ago.
Grossular with Heazlewoodite, Clinoclore and Gold!
stock #AX-16-431
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
5.3 x 3 x 3 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $1500
Pre Tucson
An important and exotic piece from Jeffrey Mine, this has the deep green gemmy Grossular (so called Chrome Grossular) scattered on a matrix of Clinochlore etc. This alone is not so exotic or important, but both Heazlewoodite and native Gold are. While this is an attractive specimen of brilliant Garnets, the main interest (for some) is several very well-formed, sharp tiny crystals and clusters of Heazelwoodite. Seen with magnification these are textbook sharp, of course this is a rare mineral worldwide and very rare at Jeffrey. But what makes this even more important is only seen starting at 40 X magnification and best revealed at 80-100x. There are several tiny but distinct crystals of Gold some of which are elongated. Of course this is all micro sized but super-rare and impossible to find material from this world-class locality. Aside from the exciting micros, the overall esthetics of the bright green Grossular is attractive in its own right. Unfortunately our photographs at very low magnifications can not show the micros properly, but they may be rephotographed later on with specialized gear.
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