Fluorite and Dolomite
stock #6.2-210
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
9.4 x 5.4 x 4.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $520
For almost 3 decades the Shangbao Mine has produced some fine and diverse Fluorites. Every few years a new style is found and older styles disappear. This is a vintage 2003 specimen with glass clear Fluorites and pinkish Dolomites in fine condition. The Fluorites are cubes with beveled edges and clear glassy central faces. Excellent esthetics, this displays well from many angles and shows both species in a nice balance. Shangbao is one of the greatest Fluorite localities in the world. Later finds were also incredible but of very different style and habit. A choice example of an earlier era, this is a nice addition to any Fluorite collection and especially to a Chinese suite.
Galena and Calcite - USA Classic
stock #0221-JM-3820
Pitcher Field, Tri State District, Ottawa County
Oklahoma,
United States
8.8 x 6.8 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $690
Ex John Marshall collection, a very fine old Tri-state area Galena and Calcite. The Tri-state zone was at one time legendary for the quantity of specimens that seemed to be everywhere in the 1930-60 era. For the most part they are gone now, and higher quality specimens like this that were never plentiful are quite rare to see. The Galena has the desirable stepped geometric faces and gunmetal silver color with bright luster. The Calcites are clustered like a crown and are a great contrast. This specimen seems to be a part of a selection purchased by John from Boodle Lane, the legendary eccentric Tri-State dealer. John bought twice from Boodle about 65 years ago, he had a good eye and selected only special or unusual pieces. Certainly a choice Galena from anyplace and very fine as a tri-state specimen.
Very sharp, complete with a rich color. a triangular form crystal that is in fine condition. This form of Rhodochrosite is quite uncommon and was best known in far smaller crystals from the famed Mont Saint-Hilaire. This is however a huge crystal from the 2005-6 finds in China from a limited zone that produced some large flat crystals. Unlike most in the find, this one is complete and undamaged on all the edges and seems to be a floater. Complex small steps and faces are noted on the flat sides and edges, probably the result of dissolution and re-crystallization cycles. Several localities worldwide do have flat habit Rhodochrosites which are very different from the scalenohedral and rhomb crystals that are more typical. However those specimens from most localities are not very distinct as to crystal form, they are rounded much like flat nearly circular disks. This is a very fine exception to the rule, a full sharp triangle.
A large and rich specimen of Nagyagite with one face sawn and polished to show the structure. From the type locality this is a heavy mass of Gold Telluride in a mixed specie piece. Sizable masses of metallic Nagyagite are well-exposed on all sides, this specimen comes from the collection of the mineral museum at Pribram in the Czech Republic. This rare specie was named for the locality (Nagyag is the Hungarian name for this location in Romania). Although this is mostly a massive specimen there are some small crude crystals in vugs and crevices best seen with magnification. At 218 grams, there is certainly a lot of Gold in this piece it is remarkable that such rich ore was not smelted.
Mottramite covering Wulfenite
stock #22.1-045
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
9.6 x 6.8 x 4.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $590
Strangely esthetic and in fantastic condition, this is a rather rare example of this find at Mina Ojuela. Crystals of Wulfenite have been covered and mostly replaced by thick masses of Mottramite. This material was found in a small but exciting discovery in 2018-19. It was distinctive and most pieces were quickly snatched up by collectors. This is being recycled from that find and is well above average for quality and form. A very nice addition for a suite of pseudomorphs, Mexican classics or just strange and wonderful minerals.
Chrysocolla after Azurite/Malachite
stock #15.1-492
Lupoto mine, Lubumbashi, Katanga Copper Crescent
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
10.8 x 6.7 x 6.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $680
From a very important find made almost a decade ago, a fine pseudomorph or epimorph of blue-green Chrysocolla in the shape of free standing Azurites. The Azurites were long ago altered to Malachite and most of the Malachite has been dissolved away though a few remnants remain. Nearly all of these forms are now fully hollow, forming a cast after the former crystals. There have been other finds of Chrysocolla after Barite and other minerals from this area but the Azurite forms are perhaps the most impressive. In very fine condition, unlike most of the find, on this piece the crystals are intact, complete and up to 2.5 CM free standing.
Quartz - Rutilated with Siderite
stock #23.1-094
Hashupa, Shigar Valley, Shigar District
Gilgit-Baltistan,
Pakistan
7 x 5.4 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1800
A very fine richly rutilated Quartz crystal 6 CM tall with bright copper-red color needles inside just below the surface in very clear outer zone so the rutile is sharp and distinct. Several rhombohedral Siderite crystals are on some faces and the condition of the whole piece is excellent, undamaged. Some sections show Sagenitic structure well and the Quartz is transparent despite the denser inclusions deeper inside. A few Rutile are noted on the surface but most are fully inside the Quartz. This is from a small fairly new find and is one of the best from the pocket. Although rutilated Quartz is known from many places in the world, this quality, density and distinct form of brilliant metallic needles is very rare.
Quartz (phantom) with Epidote - California, USA
stock #23.1-003
Calaveras River Canyon, Valley Springs area, Calaveras County
California,
United States
8.8 x 5.1 x 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $950
A really choice and sharp Calaveras County Quartz with Epidote. One of the best phantom inclusions we have seen from anyplace in the USA, the main Quartz is very clear, unpolished and in very fine condition with no visible tip dings. The smaller Quartz are contacted and not complete but not damaged. The small light-green Epidote crystals are distinct, some are terminated and all have good striations. The phantom is a good green color and from some angles the refraction of the clear quartz makes it seem that there are many phantoms in a chevron stack. The Calaveras Canyon Quartz finds were some of the best phantom Quartz found in the USA and the addition of the Epidote adds a lot of nice character on this piece.