Fluorite -dark zoned
stock #14.1-415
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
4.1 x 3.3 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $350
very sharp single cube perched on a shard of matrix, mostly Muscovite. The Fluorite has very deep purple zones and masses on the outer edges the center core is transparent and a light blue color. Very glassy luster as in all the better Yaoganxian Fluorites. The display side is perfect damage wise, there is contacting and cleaves on the back. Better in person, this is from mining in the 2004-5 season when a very rich area was worked. The locality no longer produces anything like this.
SOLD Stibnite and Calcite
stock #SOLD AX-12-106
Xikuangshan Sb Deposit, Lengshuijiang Co., Loudi Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
4.3 x 3.4 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $0
Late Summer 2018
A delicate and complex miniature specimen of transparent, zoned Calcite scalenohedra mixed with metallic Stibnites. In fine condition this is a very three dimensional piece. From the prolific finds of 2008-9, an affordable Calcite/Stibnite combo that is complex and very detailed.
The very best Yaogangxian Cassiterite I have ever seen, with the largest crystals as well. An excellent multi-specie piece mostly composed of superb Cassiterite. This locale has produced thousands of excellent mineral specimens but Cassiterite is very rare from this famed locale. Sharp lustrous crystals to almost 3 CM are arranged in a radiating cluster on a very complex matrix. I count at least 7 mineral species on this miniature, but the Cassiterite is clearly dominant and is in fine condition as well. A superb modern classic and a very important Yaoganxian specimen.
Cinnabar- twinned elongated crystal
stock #6.2-054
Chatian Mine, Fenghuang
Hunan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.5 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $475
Late Summer 2018
A long (2.7 CM) terminated twin Cinnabar on a crystallized Dolomite vug. A strong piece with esthetic structure, the back has been sawn to aid collecting this piece, the saw marks are not visible on display. With strong light the crystal is quite translucent and glows a deep cherry red. The termination shows the complex re-entrant angles (drill bit type) of twinning. There is a crack near the base of the crystal that looks like an old repair, checking with Acetone did not reveal any problem but we have priced this as if it was repaired (a previous price of 1100.00 was a very good value if not repaired). The better Chinese Cinnabar crystals are well known as the worlds best and were eagerly sought for more than 150 years. For a while in the past two decades these were more available but now the old mines are closed. We will hope that the future produces more.
Calcite (Pineapple) on Fluorite
stock #6.2-306
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
3.7 x 3.2 x 2.0 CM (miniature)
price: $290
Late Summer 2018
Almost 20 years ago the Shangbao mine in China encountered some pockets of "pineapple" look Calcites. The best of these were on contrasting Fluorite and had (to my eye anyway) great esthetic appeal. This is a small but perfect example of that find. The color, luster and habit are distinctive for these Calcites and unlike any others from anyplace. The Calcites are transparent and undamaged (a small contact is on the backside, but no damage). A fine small modern classic piece.
Fluorite on Quartz
stock #18.1-362
Xianghualing Mine, Linwu County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.7 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Late Summer 2018
Lightly frosted octahedron in fine condition on contrasting etched white Quartz from a find in 2006. We obtained this piece at the mine when the miners had just started using the dangerous process of removing Quartz from Fluorite with Hydrofluoric acid. These were quite different from the typical Xinghualing specimens, and were being etched from Quartz/Fluorite blocks that normally were crushed as ore. We sold all of those pieces but recently were able to get this one back in a trade. I have not seen any of this material for several years and this is a choice example. The Fluorite measures 3 CM and has fine color and translucency.
Arsenopyrite etc.
stock #8.1-170
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
8.1 x 6 x 5.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Worldwide mix summer
A very unusual style of Arsenopyrite from the famed Yaogangxian mine. A small amount of Muscovite matrix and associations of Fluorite (small clear purple crystals), Quartz and Calcite are typical in these multi specie specimens, but by far the majority is Arsenopyrite. Unlike the usual silver color, this has the bronze-golden hue that was only found in one zone about 15 years ago. Chipping and bruising on the outer edges is clearly seen but all the main crystals are intact and very sharp. As well as the unusual color, several crystals have unusual habits although most of the largest crystals are more usual forms most of which are in parallel position. Despite the edge damage this is a choice piece.
Orpiment on Calcite
stock #4.2-311
Shimen (Jiepiayu) Mine, Shimen County, Changde Prefecture
Hunan Province,
China
6.4 x 5.3 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $230
Worldwide mix summer
Orange to yellow Orpiment crystals reaching 3.3 CM on a matrix of Calcite and Orpiment. Vintage 2004, from the once prolific finds at the Shimen mine, these have now disappeared from the market. This matrix has a crack that seems to be stable but is noted as these are very delicate specimens. The Orpiment crystals tend to be a darker red-orange close to the terminations, and are translucent in strong light. Now that the mine is closed these are recognized as modern classics.
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