Smithsonite
stock #8.1-262
Kelly Mine, Magdelena district
New Mexico,
United States
8.5 X 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
A very attractive and unusual crystalized smithsonite from this great American Classic locality. There is a rich crust showing discrete, rounded individual crystals with top quality color and luster on the gossan matrix. Good "wet" look to the crystals and a fine value for this very collectable locality. This is not the usual massive material and different from the "rice grain" type crystals.
Fluorite on Quartz
stock #6.2-790
Xianghualing Mine, Linwu County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
10x 6.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
The last thing the world needs is more green Fluorite from China, unless it is REALLY different! This is a different and interesting example of modified cubes that more like the material from Naica and older Dalnegorsk than China, they have the sharp and clear window face and are sizable at 3.4 CM. Nice mint green color and luster with color contrast on the matrix. Over all quite esthetic, tho there is noticeable damage on the periphery it still displays well. A good addition for a Fluorite suite, or a China collection as this is not typical!
A wonderful esthetic for a dark mineral like Bournonite is to be displayed on on colorful matix, and this piece does that well. Several sharp, prismatic and lustrous silvery crystals of Bournonite are well placed on a sparkling purple fluorite and quartz mixture. A few matted hairs of Boulangerite are in evidence as well. There is one Bournonite that is broken off (not very distracting tho) all the rest are quite clean by eye and only show some edge chips at 10X magnification. A very good matrix Yaoganxian piece and a good value.
Epidote on Byssolite
stock #AC-204
Knappenwand, Untersulzbachal Valley
Hohe Tauern Mts. Salzburg,
Austria
7.2 x 4.8 CM (small cabinet/large miniature)
price: $85
From the historic and most highly regarded locality for Epidote this is a good example of the Byssolite association and an inexpensive way to own a true classic! The Epidotes reach 1.5 cm set on a sparkling mound of Byssolite fibers. There is damage on the Epidotes, they are not the gemmy crystals this locale is known for, but the Byssolite is very attractive. This piece is from a 1930's vintage collection and is very reasonably priced.
Dioptase
stock #8.1-295
Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
8.9 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
An incredibly attractive mineral! Brilliant and lustrous crystals to 1.5CM with top color are packed in a vug that is rimmed with Dioptase and some blue Shattuckite. No damage to the display area and main crystals but there are a few tiny contacts at the outer edge of the piece that are not easilly seen. Really a killer for form and with bright, wet looking luster, this is a great value for the price. I have not seen anything of this quality in any recent lots from the DRC.
purple Scapolite gem crystal
stock # 7.AE-011
Kohistan District
North West Frontier Province,
Pakistan
3.3 X .7 x .6 CM (miniature)
price: $200
A very attractive light lilac/violet gem-crystal of Scapolite from this important locality. This is actually 2 crystals grown together with the terminations staggered and showing great glass-like luster. No damage by naked eye but with 10X magnification there are some very tiny contacts and a very insignificant chip that need to be mentioned. A very nice example of a mineral that is usually quite nondescript!
Amethyst
stock #7.AE-212
Irai, Alto Urugual region
Rio Grande do Sul, South Region,
Brazil
12 x 9 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Two perfect radiating clusters (suns) joined together in an impressive and esthetic piece of glass-like Quartz. No damage at all, a fine purple hue that grades to a clear outer edge the piece is fully transparent and glows with even a hint of backlight. Not the typical quality, this is a fine mineral specimen for a fine collection.
Fluorite (large frosted octahedron)
stock #7.AE-134
Huayllapon Mine, Pasto Bueno District
Pallasca Province, Ancash Department,
Peru
12.8 x 8.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
A large and fine single octahedron of mint green Fluorite with the very desirable "stipple faced" or melted look on the crystal faces. This Alpine Fluorite is sizable and impressive from a location that has not produced good material for many years. Pasto Bueno Fluorites are quite highly regarded, and and also rather distinctive. This one is in fine shape on the display side but it is cleaved where it was removed on the underside. Displays very well and a bargain for such a large crystal.
