An intense red crystal 3 CM across sits on a matrix of Galena. Well-exposed, typically rounded and crude but with distinct form with many areas of transparency. The front side displays well with no noticeable damage, there is cleaving on the backside that is not visible. The Galena forms some selective coatings and inclusions as is usual for the locality, this adds a nice contrast. Better in person, a good example from this classic locale, likely mined over 60 years ago. Now quite rare or expensive on the market.
Creedite (large purple crystals)
stock #AX-18-006
Santa Eulalia, Aquiles Serdan
Chihuahua,
Mexico
3.2 x 2.7 x 1.9 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $880
Spring 2014
A small specimen but with unusually large, perfect crystals of purple Creedite. An old (pre 1980) specimen from Santa Eulalia, that is now almost impossible to find in any quality. Quite different and much rarer than the orange Creedite from Durango, good Purple Creedite has only been found in crystals over 1 CM in two locations, Kazakhstan and Santa Eulalia. At about 2 CM long these are huge for the specie, undamaged, have great form and displays well from all sides.
Anglesite (gemmy - with natural color)
stock #AX-18-015
Touissit, Touissit-Bou Beker Dist., Jerada Province
Oujada-Angad Province, Oriental Region,
Morocco
5.8 x 4.5 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1450
Spring 2014
An esthetic, super clear, razor sharp and untreated (natural color) Anglesite. From the great finds in 1980-90 at Touissit, these are now regarded as the world's best for the specie. Far better in person, this is a delicate light greenish yellow hue and from some angles shows fine internal rainbows. Undamaged by naked eye, very tiny chips can be found only with 20X magnification, this is virtually perfect and quite impressive for this very fragile mineral!
Dioptase (unusual color and exceptional form)
stock #AX-24-097
Luishia Mine, Kambove District
Shaba,
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
4.4 x 2.5 x 1.3 CM (miniature)
price: $975
Spring 2014
Striking, esthetic and unusual, this is a fine, undamaged piece with an "odd" color hue. The Shaba Dioptase can be quite impressive but rarely this delicate and sculptural, with no matrix. The color, in person, looks almost a Malachite green but with a brilliant glassy luster, there is good transparency too as seen in some of the best Tsumeb Dioptase. A fine specimen from any place this is especially nice for Katanga area.
Quartz included by Actinolite (Tessin)
stock #9-AE 1076
Wenshan County, Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture
Yunnan Province,
China
10.3 x 2.1 x 1.4CM (cabinet)
price: $460
Spring 2014
From a small find made 2002 this is one of the best single crystals recovered. Undamaged, sizable at over 10CM long, with excellent luster and translucence. The upper half of this shows a distinct Tessin habit but the lower half does not. Similar to some of the recent Himalayan quartz and the classic Greek included quartz, this has a noticeably different look and texture.
A wonderful combination specimen with impressive esthetics. From the Hladysz collection, this is an outstanding example of what could sometimes be found at the Benchmark Quarry 25 years ago. Bill Hladysz had exclusive permission to extract specimens there for decades, this is a gem from his personal collection now being dispersed. No eye visible damage, what may look like a chip on the calcite is not, it is a stepped edge growth.
A super specimen from Erongo which displays very well and has remarkable esthetics. The black Tourmaline has brilliant luster in person and has a prismatic termination at the top and a lower termination of the fibrous type on the bottom. The contrast with the bi-color green and purple zoned fluorite gives this piece its great esthetics. In excellent condition damage wise, the photos do not do this one justice!
Caledonite, Linarite, Anglesite and Galena
stock #AX-18-077
BlueBell Mine, Baker, Soda Lake Mts, San Bernadino Co.
California,
United States
4.9 x 4.3 x 3.3 (miniature)
price: $200
Spring 2014
A rich combination specimen with lots of bright well-crystallized Caledonite mixed with contrasting bright blue Linarite. The matrix is mostly a highly oxidized Galena and hosts crystals of Anglesite, Cerussite and what may be massive Leadhillite along with a few unknown micros. This could be turned into several very good thumbnails since the specimen has good crystals on every side, but I like it as is.
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