Barite with Malachite inclusions
stock #21.FC-023
Shangulowe Mine, Kambove District
Lualaba Province,
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
5.1 x 4 x 1.5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $560
Early summer 2021
A fine example of the rare "green Barite" from the Shangulowe Mine (Kabove, DR Congo). This has a main crystal that is over 4 CM across which is huge for this find. The clarity and condition are excellent and the whole displays very well on the contrasting matrix. The brightest green zones are more concentrated on the edges and the overall color is a bluish grey-green. In excellent condition there is no damage to the Barites which at this size is remarkable.
Wulfenite, very large crystal coated by Quartz druse.
stock #21.FC-003
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4.7 x 3.8 x 2.2 CM (miniature)
price: $2500
Early summer 2021
A really large, sharp, fat Wulfenite crystal which is fully overgrown with a druse of sparkling Quartz crystals. This is from the first (and best) of two such finds at M'Fouti, which made big news in the mineral world. This is a superb example and a remarkable specimen from anyplace. This style and form are not known like this from any place else on earth. The Wulfenite is in perfect condition, it is broken only at the base where it was removed. There is another, perfect smaller crystal growing on one face and the orange to yellow color are more pronounced on one side of the piece, the other side is closer to a clean white hue. There were a very few pieces of this size and quality found, this is among the very best. An outstanding, unusual Wulfenite.
Mimetite - two generations
stock #15.1-439
Chah Milleh Mine, Anarak Dist., Nain Co.
Esfahan Province,
Iran
4.7 x 2.5 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $130
Early summer 2021
A small, colorful Mimetite from the artisanal specimen mining at the very old Chah Milleh Mine. Two distinct generations of Mimetite are seen with the older larger masses a bright red-orange and the newer are small blobs and crystals in a bright yellow. Close exam show that there were at one time bladed crystals of Wulfenite which are now gone, leaving some hollow casts in their shape. A nice, affordable and attractive Lead secondary from a classic locality.
Calcite (pineapple type) on Fluorite
stock #7.AE-426
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
5 x 3.9 x 3.3 CM (miniature)
price: $240
Early summer 2021
The "pineapple" type Calcite from the Shangbao Mine were found in the 2004-7 era but not seen in more recent mining. These were mostly translucent to transparent and the color looks just like pineapple. This piece is a single doubly terminated crystal on etched Fluorite that is both light purple and blue. In good condition overall, there are some very small contact points and rough spots but no chipping or real damage. This is in remarkable shape for one of these as most have considerable damage. An attractive Shangbao specimen and a very good example of this very cool habit.
Rhodochrosite with Fluorite and Quartz
stock #8.1-432
Wutong Mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co. Wuzoh Pref.
Xinjiang Autonomous Region,
China
7.8 x 5.1 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
Early summer 2021
A choice plate of red rhombohedral Rhodochrosite crystals with a purple Fluorite that adds a nice color accent. A very early specimen from the large find at Wutong, these Rhodos are very three dimensional, they stand above the matrix which is mostly Quartz some of which is in needle crystal. The color is a very deep red on many crystals, others are a little more pinkish red. Overall this is as vivid as we have seen from China with a hue comparable to many Sweet Home Mine Rhodos. The entire plate can be backlit to a glowing red, the crystals are mostly not transparent but translucent and cloudy inside. An attractive and colorful specimen and a good value.
Galena on Quartz
stock #AX-15-146-(C100)
Rucheng Mine, Caojia, Nuanshui, Chenzhou
Hunan Province,
China
8.6 x 6.4 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $360
Early summer 2021
With all the great Lead minerals that are found in China it is surprising how uncommon are good specimens of Galena, the most common lead mineral. This is a nice Galena from anyplace and super fine from China, with two textbook perfect crystals on a bed of milky Quartz. Ex Shields Flynn collection, obtained from Bert Ottens, this is a 2004 vintage specimen with the largest crystal 2.6 CM across. The two crystals are both of different habits, perfect and undamaged. The Rucheng Mine is famed for the fine Sphalerites it produced about 15 years ago. This piece is about as fine as Galena is ever seen in China.
Wulfenite (fluorescent) with Galena, Calcite etc.
stock #15.1-881
Touissit, Touissit-Bou Beker Dist., Jerada Province
Oriental Region,
Morocco
8.6 x 7.7 x 5.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Early summer 2021
A very unusual and complex specimen from Touissit that is a fine illustration of lead secondary mineral formation. The core of this piece is a highly etched and partly dissolved mass of Galena, showing alteration to several other minerals. Around that is a mass of Calcite and Dolomite that are the matrix of several generations of well-crystalized Wulfenite. The oldest are completely encased in translucent Calcite, the most recent are smaller, more lustrous and vividly fluorescent in long-wave UV. The Galena was of course the source for the lead that was released as it was affected by acidic conditions and which then formed the Wulfenites. Most of the many Wulfenites are complete and perfectly undamaged but there are a few with chipping damage that are not distracting and are almost invisible in the mass of the specimen. Touissit is an amazing locality, though over shadowed by the more famous Tsumeb. It too has incredible variety and complexity to its minerals. This is a very rare fluorescent Wulfenite with just the youngest crystals responding lemon-yellow.
Spessartine - etched gem crystal
stock #21.FC-007
Navegadora Mine, Penha do Norte, Conseheiro Pena, Doce Valley
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
3.8 x 2.8 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $1600
Early summer 2021
A very lustrous, complete Spessartine crystal with a tiny sliver of Albite attached. From the unique and world famed Navegadora claim in Minas Gerais, this is completely etched and recrystallized with fine geometric structures on all sides. In person this looks like red glass. Fully gemmy and transparent, when backlit the entire piece glows a brilliant red. In super condition, a very close exam finds only a very small rough edge that is not seen from most any angle, this is essentially a perfect floater. The etching has gone so far as to create small geometric cavities and tunnels through the mass of the Garnet. A modern classic, 30.2 Grams and all gem.
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