Mixite - historic specimen
stock #AX-35-144
Mammoth Mine, Tintic Mountains, Juab County
Utah,
United States
7.6 x 4.5 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
new year 2021
This specimen dates to the famed Levison collection (New York City) acquired in 1899. Mixite is considered fairly rare, an unusual Bismuth Copper Arsenate, almost never seen in display specimens. This is a sizable and complex multi-specie piece with a Barite matrix hosting areas of Mixite, Malachite plus what seems to be Olivenite. There are a few additional small crystals not identified. The Mammoth area of Tintic was a fantastic locality that provided some rare and exotic species including five new minerals. This specimen has a very tattered old label affixed (not easy to read) and we also include a photocopy of the page from his collection ledger for this piece. A nice example in a sizable specimen.
SOLD Smithsonite
stock #SOLD 16.1-202
Tsumeb
Otjikoto Region,
Namibia
2.5 x 1.8 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $0
new year 2021
Sharp scalenohedral crystals of Smithsonite with a pale yellow color perched on a Sulphide matrix. Tsumeb Smithsonites were found in every color and form possible, this is a choice thumbnail in fine condition as seen.
Aquamarine - tapered termination, etched crystal
stock #AX-7-058-(162)
Medina Pegmatite field, Pedra Azul District
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.1 x .5 x .4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $180
new year 2021
A "needle" of sharp gem-clear Beryl in perfect condition. The sides are etched along the "C" axis and the termination is the uncommon pointed, tapered type. Ex Larry White collection; this dates to the late 70's early 80's vintage.
Rhodochrosite
stock #20.1-606
Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County
Colorado,
United States
1.4 x 1.2 x .8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $240
new year 2021
A single Rhodochrosite crystal which is a rather small thumbnail but is quite unusual, having a "melted" surface with etching and coming from an uncommon locality. This was collected in 1966 by Les Hitchings, he gives only Idaho Springs, Colorado as the locality, he collected three thumbnails there while on an extended trip, he was very proud of these pieces. The crystal is mostly transparent and gemmy, has good luster and a nice red color.
Realgar - single crystal
stock #4.2-185
Shimen (Jiepiayu) Mine, Shimen County, Changde Prefecture
Hunan Province,
China
2.2 x 1.1 x .6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $220
new year 2021
A bright red crystal that is translucent to transparent, well-formed and distinctly striated. This crystal was mined in 2003, it has been stored in the dark so is fresh and bright. A few small rough spots are to be mentioned but overall this is in fine shape, well-terminated and a choice thumbnail. When these were found they were certainly the best Realgars available at that time, and are still about as fine as can be seen. Of special note, these Hunan Realgars seemed to keep their color and luster better than specimens from other localities.
Bournonite
stock #6.2-892
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
3.1 x 2.6 x 1.5 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $350
new year 2021
A super bright "gun metal" luster Bournonite crystal which is doubly terminated. Some of the faces are perfectly smooth mirror-like while other are striated. From the Yaogangxian Mine which had the reputation for providing more fine Bournonite than the rest of the world's localities together. Before these finds this was a rather rare and sought after specie. There seems to be no twinning on this crystal which is unusual for Bournonite which is almost always twinned. Displays well as seen, there are some small chips on the terminations and the back is contacted but not damaged. While not perfect this is far better than 99.9 percent of these, and the rough areas are not excessive. As a whole Bournonites are notoriously brittle and most often incomplete.
Rhodochrosite
stock #18.1-538
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
9 x 7.4 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1850
new year 2021
An excellent cabinet sized Rhodochrosite that is of an unusual habit for N'Chwaning. Rhodo crystals fully cover the face of this large plate of Manganite matrix. From the display side just a sliver of the underlying black Manganite crystals can be seen. The hundreds of tiny sparkling Rhodochrosite crystals are sharp transparent scalenohedra most being free standing when seen under magnification. In excellent condition, there is no damage found by naked eye and under magnification only micro bruises on edges can be found with some difficulty. The sparkling luster and undulating surface make an attractive cabinet sized specimen from this famed mine. The color is not the intense red that some N'Chwaning Rhodos have but is a good red to pink-rose hue. This is also not a 5 figure specimen it is a very good value for a sizable, undamaged Rhodo from this famed, classic locale.
Hydrocerussite
stock #17.1-058
Tsumeb
Otjikoto Region,
Namibia
3 x 2.6 x2.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $950
new year 2021
A cluster of well-defined Hydrocerussite from Tsumeb. These are coatings and replacements of the original Cerussite so are technically pseudomorphs though there may be some un-altered Cerussite deep inside the crystals. In excellent condition the luster is a pearly to dull powdery-white that is typical of the specie. Although this is not typically a "pretty" mineral, the form of this piece is a very attractive presentation of a rather rare mineral. An excellent Tsumeb piece that is just small enough to be a legitimate thumbnail. In remarkable condition, all of the main free standing crystals are undamaged on all sides, this ranks as a competition grade specimen.
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