Quartz with Hematite
stock #21.1-272
Lechang Mine, Lechang County, Shaoguan Prefecture
Guangdong Province,
China
6.7 x 4.5 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Early summer 2021
Red Quartz crystals are clustered with bladed Hematite in an esthetic presentation. This piece has 6 terminated free standing prisms, all with some orange to red color. From the display side there is no visible damage, however, on the back some damage can be seen. The Quartz has very good transparency and the terminations are clean and sharp. This find was big news in the mineral world about 15 years ago, but no new material has come out for quite a while. We have handled quite a lot of the Quartz from Lechang and it is rare to find any without considerable damage; this is much better than typical.
Smithsonite - pink, botryoidal
stock #21.1-268
Choix, Municipio de Choix
Sinaloa,
Mexico
6.7 x 5.6 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
Early summer 2021
A quite old specimen from early finds at Choix, with fine pink color. In some lighting the pink has a slight purplish hue but under most conditions this is really pink. Worldwide there are not many pink botryoidal Smithsonites found (pink crystals from Tsumeb are well-known but none botryoidal), Choix is one of the very few localities and these were never common when the zone was producing. Since this locality is now abandoned there may never be more. A very pretty addition to any Smithsonite collection.
Descloizite with minor Calcite
stock #21.1-267
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
5.5 x 4.7 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $600
Early summer 2021
Perfect blades of sharp textbook habit formed in a fine and well-composed specimen. Well beyond the usual quality for the specie. The blades have a scattering of tiny Calcite rhombs that add a nice contrast. The largest crystal is over 3.5 CM and all are quite lustrous with the edges slightly translucent. The color, when backlit, is slightly red-orange but overall this is a golden brown to dark brown. Very close to perfect with no damage visible to naked eye but with good magnification some very very tiny bruises are found. These spots are well under 0.3 mm and not on any of the main crystals, so this is as near to perfect as this delicate mineral gets. Every angle of this is esthetic, it can be shown from any side which is unusual. An excellent small cabinet piece from the world's best locale for the specie, Berg Aukus.
Cuprite with Miersite and Marshite
stock #10.1-085
Rubtsovsky Mine, Rubtsovshy District
Altaiskii Krai,
Russia
4.3 x 3.7 x 2. CM (miniature)
price: $875
Early summer 2021
This is mostly a fine Cuprite specimen with a main octahedron over 3 CM across, which is very sharp and defined. There are several other smaller crystals and between them are some excellent small crystals of Miersite that are bright yellow, gemmy and well-formed. The Marshite is smaller and less distinct but still a nice addition. From the great find at Rubtsovskly Mine in 2010, these were instant classics when found. The Cuprite is especially lustrous and has geometric growth structures well displayed on the larger faces. Aside from the unavoidable broken area where this was removed, the specimen is perfect, the main crystals are in undamaged condition and are in textbook forms.
SOLD Pyromorphite - US classic locale
stock #SOLD 16.1-596
Pheonixville, Schuylkill Township, Chester County
Pennsylvania,
United States
5.3 x 4.8 x 3.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
Early summer 2021
Two generations of Pyromorphite in several vugs and thin cavities on matrix. The larger crystals are the classic dark green that this locality is known for. The smaller crystals are a newer generation, more transparent, slender and a lighter yellow-green. By naked eye this is in excellent condition, with a loupe some damaged crystals are seen, but are not a major impact overall. A few small Calcites are also present. Some of the larger, darker crystals are also arranged in flat fan-like sprays while most are in more typical free standing form.
SOLD Siderite - gemmy crystals
stock #SOLD 21.1-266-(B9)
Morro Velha Mine, Nova Lima, Iron Quadrangle
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
6.1 x 4.3 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
Early summer 2021
Cluster of transparent to translucent Siderite crystals with stepped and modified Rhomb forms dominating. With backlighting this glows a deep honey-yellow color and is quite lustrous. In good shape overall there are some rough spots but none are major. The Siderite from this locale is some of the best in the world. The largest flattened rhomb on this piece is 3.1 CM across, and has sharply stepped faces.
A super attractive miniature from a small new find. This piece was selected from just a few pieces that came out recently as it has just great form and presentation. Aside from that one small lot I have not seen any others before or since. The Shattuckite balls are both isolated and in small clusters. From some angles these look like berries on an evergreen tree. The Malachite is all primary crystals with sharp acicular form. In excellent condition, displays well from all sides. A great Copper secondary specimen that is really different.
Fluorite - modified gem clear cubes
stock #21.1-169
Xiayang, Yongchun County, Quanzhou Prefecture
Fujian Province,
China
5.1 x 4.3 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $1050
Early summer 2021
From a recent (2021) find at Xiayang, a cluster of vivid purple-blue cubes on matrix. These cubes all have the beveled edge modifications that are perfect and sharp, a textbook example. Even more clear and lustrous in person. This sits on its own at several good display angles, the first photo is what some would call the back because there is less Fluorite present though I like the contrast. No matter the angle of display the prominent crystals are fully perfect as seen though some outer crystals do have some edge roughness or contacts. All in all the condition is fine. This does show some of the color change effect from incandescent to daylight or LED lighting. This is a special feature of some Fujian Fluorites and some have called it a "tanzanite effect". The shift from purple to blue is clear, though I must say not quite as vivid as on some other pieces. An excellent example of the find and just a nice Fluorite from anyplace.
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