Tremolite - chatoyant terminated crystals
stock #20.1-137
North Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County
New York,
United States
7.4 x 4.6 x 2.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Spring 2020
St Lawrence County of northern New York state is a legendary classic zone for mineral collectors. From time to time new finds are still made often in the isolated Skarns. This significant Tremolite was collected by Skylar Alverson in 1974 and remained in his collection until his passing. Individual crystals reach 4.4 CM and have deep green translucent to transparent faces some showing chatoyance. There are even a few zones of gem grade which could be faceted. In fine condition, no damage except for a small attachment at the base where it was attached, and a few clean contacts where other crystals had grown. A choice example similar to yet rather different from a small find made in 2019, Tremolite is not often an esthetic mineral and this is quite choice.
Rhodochrosite stalactite
stock #20.1-136
Capillitas Mine, Andagala
Catamarca,
Argentina
7.7 x 3.3 x 1.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $390
Spring 2020
A pair of intergrown "stalactite" habit Rhodochrosites with well defined lathlike crystals in stacked arrangement. From the famed mine at Capillitas, which is still the only place on Earth that this form is found. The bottom or base of the pair is broken and shows the concentric banding that is so sought after in the lapidary trade, but the form and larger than average crystals makes this a choice mineral specimen. The color is a pink to orange hue on one edge, the other sides have a secondary coating of a white to grey Manganese oxides. The unusual structure of intersecting fingers makes for an esthetic display piece. In excellent condition, the crystals are undamaged save for the point of attachment.
Quartz (Cumberland habit) with Hematite
stock #18.1-366
Chubb Lake, St. Lawrence County
New York,
United States
2.2 x 1.9 x 1.7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $260
Spring 2020
A USA classic Quartz from Chubb Lake, New York, this is a perfect thumbnail with textbook form. The crystal is complete all around, undamaged, a floater with sharp faces and a sparkling dusting of Hematite in tiny crystals. The Quartz is also included with the same sparkling Hematite which can be seen clearly inside the faces. This locality has been closed for many years and is remarkably similar in its mineralogy to the old British localities of the Cumberland Iron mines. This piece could easily pass as British (and as a very fine piece) but it is actually much more uncommon from this small but significant US locale.
Galena
stock #20.FC-104
Dalnegorsk, Kavalerovo Mining District
Primorsky Kray,
Russia
3.8 x3.6 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $780
Spring 2020
A strange and rare habit, I have only ever seen two of these "cruciform" etched Galenas, and this one is very distinct. The complex crystallization presents very well and the bright luster helps to show the cross off from several angles. The matrix in this case is a pair of Calcite crystals that act as a built in base so the specimen stands on its own. The specimen on close examination shows an impressive series of steps and terraces much like a topographic map where the summit is in the form of a cross.
Elbaite - Indicolite
stock #17.1-549
Barra do Salinas Mining District, Coronel Murta
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
4.9 x 3.5 x 3.4 CM (miniature)
price: $1450
Spring 2020
A complex dark Tourmaline crystal that when backlit explodes with an intense deep indigo blue with a zone of green on the edges. From old finds at the remarkable locality of Barra do Salinas which is well known for very colorful and often deeply etched gem crystals. This specimen is the termination of complex prism, the faces are lustrous and the overall weight is 78 Grams, nearly all of good gem grade. There is old edge chipping most of which has been recrystallized, but despite the imperfections the color and luster make this a striking piece. Without any backlighting this is fairly dark and may look like a schorl at first, but when well lit the color is outstanding.
SOLD Rhodochrosite on Analcime
stock #SOLD 20.1-080
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
4.6 x 3.6 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $0
Spring 2020
A killer miniature with a main Rhodochrosite rhomb 3.2 CM in diameter which is perfectly perched on a cluster of Analcime crystals. The Rhodos are opaque in some areas and translucent in others, perhaps due to some dark inclusions (Birnessite?). The luster is in person impressively bright and glassy, there are some subtle striations and growth structures as well that add interest in person. The faces show a color range and mottling from dark reds, pinks and close to black in spots. Rhodochrosite at Mont St. Hilaire took many forms and color hues, but such well formed, sharp textbook crystals are not common at all. This is an exceptional showy piece in remarkable clean condition.
Andradite - large parallel position crystals
stock #20-FC-034-(9133)
Lac D Amiante, Black Lake Mine, LAB Mine, Chaudiere-Appalaches
Quebec,
Canada
4.1 x 2.9 x 2.4 CM (miniature)
price: $900
Spring 2020
Flattened habit mint green crystals often called "Demantoid" are in a stacked alignment with almost no matrix present. From the now classic finds made over 25 years ago at Black Lake, these Garnets are far larger than the average and this is an incredibly enormous cluster, the largest we have ever seen. The biggest garnet in the cluster is over 2.2 CM across, it is huge for this locale where most are 2-3mm in size only. Translucent with some tiny areas of transparency, the luster is moderate, some faces are glassy but others are slightly dusted with and included by tiny needles of Pectolite with gives a more matte effect. In excellent condition at 20X magnification no damage or chips can be found which is also quite rare. For some reason many of the larger crystals we have seen had unusual or distorted habits including this sort of flattening. A very choice and huge green Andradite.
Prehnite - sharp gemmy crystals
stock #AX-24-495
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.4 x 2.7 x 2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $780
Spring 2020
Prehnite crystals which are unusually sharp, clear and distinct with textbook perfect form. An older specimen from the Jeffrey Quarry in Quebec which was at one time an incredible source of fine and often unique Prehnites. This is in flawless condition damage-wise. The matrix is a mix of needle crystals of Pectolite and micro Natrolite. The matrix is fluorescent as well. Very much a three dimensional specimen that displays well from almost any angle, the overall esthetics are impressive.
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