Wurtzite - very unusual locale and form
stock #19.1-339
Blackjack Mine, Galena District, Jo Daviess County
Illinois,
United States
5.3 x 4 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
new year 2021
A very unusual piece unlike typical Wurtzite and from a locale that is not known for the specie. This piece comes from the Fred Meisner collection, the original label is dated 1943. The balls of radiating translucent crystals of Wurtzite are similar to some rare pieces found long ago in the Tri-state Lead-Zinc District, but these are from the Galena, Illinois area. These are also more translucent and a bit more distinct than the Tri-state pieces with a marked resinous luster. With good magnification the elongate nature of the individual crystals is evident. A significant piece for the locality and a nice Wurtzite of this habit.
Boltwoodite
stock #17.1-306
Goanikontes Claim, Goanikontes, Arandis
Erongo Region,
Namibia
7.7 x 5.3 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
new year 2021
Several balls of radiating Boltwoodite crystals are nestled in an open vug lined with Quartz. The specimen shows both the bright yellow and red-orange colors of the Boltwoodite and has a nice contrast with the dark Quartz. The largest sphere is a centimeter across and is showing the starburst of tightly packed needle crystals and a color zoning. A nice example of the specie.
Pyrrhotite
stock #13.1-395
Santa Eulalia, Aquiles Serdan
Chihuahua,
Mexico
5.5 x 3.7 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $190
new year 2021
A stack of aligned Pyrrhotite crystals with an unusual dull golden luster. These crystals have signs of some alteration and micro voids forming along striations, but the whole specimen is very solid and sculptural. An older specimen from Santa Eulalia these are quite different from the usual Dalnegorsk pieces.
Fluellite with Metavariscite
stock #16.1-232-(CN3917)
Cantera Azcarate, Eugui
Navarra,
Spain
9.1 x 5 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
new year 2021
An unusual color for Fluellite, this find was, I believe, the only well-defined violet crystals of the specie ever found. An open vug holding lots of small, perfect crystals of both species but mostly Fluellite. The find was late 90's vintage. Ex Charles Noll collection with a few additional previous labels, these were sold in 1999-2000 by Jordi Fabre (Barcelona, Spain) with none like this since.
Sphalerite var. Schalenblende
stock #AX-35-108
Eagle Mine, Gilman District, Eagle Co.
Colorado,
United States
5.8 x 3.6 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $240
new year 2021
An oddity from Colorado, this unusual botryoidal Sphalerite is a complete floater, with a dark yellow-green color. This variety (Schalenblende) of Sphalerite is known in a very few other specimens from the Eagle Mine; most Sphalerite from there was the more normal lustrous black crystals. In fine condition, from the collection of Skylar Alverson obtained by him from Charlie Bowman in 1984. Excellent for a Colorado collection and a very rare Sphalerite from any place in the USA.
Grossular - gemmy crystals
stock #AX-24-264
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.7 x 3.1 x 1.2 CM (miniature)
price: $370
new year 2021
Gem clear Grossular Garnets with the deep orange color that is most desired from this iconic locale. The Jeffrey mine Garnets were found in many different styles, habits and colors, they are regarded as among the greatest examples of the specie worldwide. This piece is in fine condition overall with glassy luster and less striations on faces than we usually see. The crystals are perfectly transparent, the matrix can be seen through them. Most of the crystals are clustered or touching each other on edges which is usually considered to be crowding but these do show good independent development and are not as jammed together as is often the case. A very pretty and affordable miniature gem Garnet specimen.
Fluorite - Carthage corner habit
stock #19.1-499
Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County
Tennessee,
United States
5.8 x 2.4 x 2.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $340
new year 2021
A very delicate, perfectly etched Fluorite corner from the great Elmwood Mine. For some strange reason this rare habit of selective etching and re-crystallization of Fluorite corners was not so rare in Elmwood, these are named for the locale. This example is an unusually slender, complete, undamaged specimen that is impressive on all sides. The overall Fluorite corner is a light purple but much of the piece is closer to a white. A mineralogical marvel.
The find of Iranian Descloizites that are altered to Willemite and Cerussite was huge news in the mineral world. The find was short lived but from it came some incredible things like this. The structure shows typical Descloizite stacked crystals and herringbone patterns that have completely altered to Willemite. The structures are sprinkled with hundreds of tiny yellow-orange gemmy Mimetite crystals. Several faces are also covered with a late generation of Cerussite crystals in a multitude of habits. Nothing like this has ever been found any place else and it seems there are no more. This piece is in fine condition, undamaged and a complete floater. Displays well from most any angle and is really incredible under magnification; this is loaded with outstanding tiny crystals.
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