San Luis Potosi,
Mexico
9.6 x 8.4 x 5.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
This is both a nice specimen and a fine historic piece as well. The specimen has a slightly faded affixed label from the remarkable collection of Wallace Gould Levison. Details from his ledger (we include a photocopy of the page) says" Bought from William Niven in his new store at 14th street and Broadway (NYC) April 18, 1895". Niven was an important minerologist born in 1850 who was an early partner with the famed dealer George English, later an independent dealer in New York. The specimen is vividly fluorescent and the Hyalite Opal is
perfectly transparent looking like bubbles covering a purplish Chalcedony matrix. The only location given in the notes is San Luis Potosi, this is almost certainly from Tepetate. A very choice piece that is both esthetic and a nice piece of History.
Remarkable dark Fluorite crystals that have a bright yellow core that is only seen inside the holes left by former Barite rosettes. These Barite holes have a distinctive structure, these are a waxy cone shaped void that shows the detail of the long-gone Barite crystals. These Barite holes are well known from the region but the color zoning on this one is unusual and is especially impressive when backlit. The Fluorite is overall dark, sharp and lustrous with some edge scuffs, so perhaps not for strict perfectionists. The main interest is of course the Barite holes up to 1 CM across that penetrate the inner bright yellow center of the Fluorite. In Some light this looks like a dark purple but most of the color is really the exterior coating of Bitumen which is nearer to a black color.
Hematite with Quartz -unusual locality
stock #16.1-718
Dzhezkazgan Mining District
Karagandy Province,
Kazakhstan
4.7 x 3.8 x 2.8 CM (miniature)
price: $340
Choice, mirror bright metallic crystals in a stacked cluster from an unusual locality in Kazakhstan. The main crystal is a perfect hexagon 2.2 CM across. This mine is well known for excellent Copper minerals but this is the first fine Hematite we have seen. The Karagandy region has other localities for nice Hematites but this is both different in habit and better than most we have seen.
Calcite on Adamite
stock #AX-11-280
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
5 x 4.2 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $165
Sparkling reddish-pink Calcites encrust and contrast with green Adamite balls. Great luster and vivid color, this is hard to fully appreciate in photos but has really good display impact. Most of the Adamite is fully encased under the Calcite but it is seen clearly at some angles. Ojuela has produced many fine Adamites in many habits during a long history. This color combo is not so common, this miniature piece is in fine undamaged condition and would go well in a suite of choice Mexican minerals.
Milarite on Valencianite and Quartz
stock #AX-10-589
Valenciana Mine (Mina La Valenciana), Municipio de Guanajuato
Guanajuato,
Mexico
7.8 x 5.8 x 5.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $160
One of the more uncommon Beryllium Silicate species, Milarite is a real "mineral collectors" specie. This piece is from the find some decades ago in Guanajuato, Mexico. The Matrix is a mix of Quartz and Valencianite (variety of Adularia). The Valencia Mine is the type locality for the Feldspar and was the source of these small bright yellow Milarites which were big news in the mineral world. This piece has several very small crystal and one a bit larger (about 8mm). These are flat habit and the structure is not as evident without good magnification. A fair example of the find that is not crazy expensive.
SOLD Elbaite - gem-clear Indicolite
stock #SOLD 20.1-294
Barra do Salinas Mining District, Coronel Murta
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
2.6 x .7 x .5 CM (thumbnail)
price: $0
Deep blue transparent Indicolite crystal with a contrasting termination. An older specimen (1960's) this has a subtle zoning but is mostly a consistent blue color. In choice condition, this is an attractive thumbnail with complete termination and glassy luster.
A large, colorful Swiss alpine specimen featuring several well-crystallized species in scattered clusters. The centerpiece is the pink octahedral Fluorites many of which are gem clear. In addition, there are a few small colorless Fluorites and a few areas of dark nearly black Fluorite which is coated by and included with Chlorite. The specimen is also multi-colored fluorescent and amazing when examined under good magnification. Gem clear Quartz crystals show typical alpine habits and sharp transparent Epidote and Adularia crystals add contrast. Very pretty in person this looks even better as you look closer.
Chalcocite pseudo after Covellite - Classic USA
stock #13.1-375
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County
Montana,
United States
3.4 x 3.3 x 2.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2400
Fantastic form and a killer pseudomorph. This vintage Butte specimen shows perfectly the form of the original Covellite crystals which are almost fully replaced by Chalcocite. It looks like a tiny bit of Covellite may remain on the backside, but if so it is minor. This is an early specimen with excellent provenance, a tattered Roy Hopping (NYC Mineral dealer vintage 1898) label is included. This was also in the collection of Louis Zara (famed NYC collector, author and publisher of the Mineral Digest. His label is also included. The specimen is in exceptional condition, fully undamaged and attractive from almost any angle. Well-crystallized Covellite is remarkably rare worldwide with only two significant localities, both long closed. It is even less common to see a well-defined pseudomorph with sharp crystals like this.
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