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2403 specimens listed
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Rhodochrosite with Native Silver
stock #8.1-419
Wutong Mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co. Wuzoh Pref.
Guangxi Province, China
4.1 x 3.8 CM (miniature)
price: $1650


A big rich red translucent rhomb that is quite a good Rhodo on its own. However, this has the addition of wire silver and silver "skins" in several spots. The largest wire is about 7mm long and easily visible. This locality has produced only a few good examples of this rare association. This is an outstanding one. The crystal is transparent to translucent and glows with any backlighting. There is the typical internal stress fractures visible inside, a contact on the backside, and cleaving on the exterior as seen in the photos. Despite this it is a very attractive, displayable, bright and eyecatching crystal in the top percentile of quality from this location. A most desirable piece for a Chinese suite, Rhodo or Silver collection or just for the novelty and color!

Tourmaline (elbaite) with hollow termination
stock #8.DK-092-(stk)
Palo Alto, San Diego Co.
California, United States
3.4 x 2.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $700


From the classic California pegmatites this is a very different and remarkable tourmaline! The bi color crystal is sharp, glassy has some "cats eye" fibers and a lot of gem clear areas. However what makes this exceptional is the central hole in the center of the termination. This hole is roughly triangular in cross section, like the exterior of the crystal. Furthermore, it is striated on the inside and runs thru more than half of the crystal before it ends at a "negative termination" . The crystal has some very nice color, minimal damage (not eye visible) but the hoppered area is what makes this really impressive. Good for any gem crystal collection or as a conversation piece.

Chrysoberyl (twinned)
stock #8.AE-691

Espirito Santo, Brazil
3.6 x 3.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $800


A very fine prismatic central prism is joined by 2 other smaller "wing" crystals forming one half of the classic sixling twin. The crystals are all glassy yellow-green and gemmy with many inclusions. The central crystal is big at 3.3 CM in size and has minimal damage on the display side. The back of the specimen is contacted and broken but it is not in view from the display side. This is a good piece showing lots of form and character!

Afghanite
stock #8.AE-742
Laduar Medam, Sar-e-Sang District, Koksha Valley, Khash and Kuran Wa Mun
Nuristan, Afghanistan
5 x 4 CM (miniature)
price: $165


A sharp, deep blue terminated Afghanite sits on the top of a calcite matrix (FL). The Afghanite crystal is 2 CM long and 1.6 CM wide, it is broken in the back but the presenting side is undamaged. There are two other broken crystal fragments in the matrix. A nice example and a well-presented termination of this once uncommon mineral.

Silver with Rhodochrosite
stock #8.1-278
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Province
Lima Department, Peru
5.6 x 4.2 x 4.3 CM (miniature)
price: $1180


From a find about 20 years ago, this is a very striking example of well formed Silver growing from a Quartz and Rhodochrosite vug. Super esthetic, undamaged and with excellent contrast this is a very fine Silver example. Several wires over 2 CM long and relatively thick are complexly crystallized. One single sharply terminated Silver crystal is protruding 9mm from the quartz with spear-like form. The Rhodos are a series of stacked tiny rhombohedra and add a further contrast and a very special association. An old Dave Bunk label has a 1500.00 price tag on it, it is a fine specimen.

Beryl v. Aquamarine on Muscovite w. unknown
stock #8.1-099
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province, China
6.8 x 5.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $325


The Xuebaoding Aquamarines are distinctive and have become rather common on the market, but good ones are much less common. This is a good example with deeper than average color and distinct sharp form. The single gem crystal is well placed aesthetically on the matrix. As a bonus the dark area on the right includes a zone of redissolved Cassiterite, an unidentified green mineral similar to Mushingtonite, and an unknown Silver metallic mineral. As this location is not able to produce at this time, these will be harder to get and are still a remarkable bargain.

Beryl var. Aquamarine (bi-color and unusual habit)
stock #8.1-056
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province, China
7.5 x 5 CM (cabinet)
price: $975


I believe that the area near Pingwu, China is one of the greatest mineral localities ever. Some amazing quality minerals are well known but usually not many variations. However, this is not a typical Xuebaoding Aqua! In 2007 I purchased a small lot in China that were unusually elongated beryls that were bi-color (white to blue). I expected there would be many more, but there were not, the habit is very rare and not found since. We originally sold this piece in 2007, I am glad to have it back. It has the largest crystals I have seen from this find (4.8 CM) and it displays super well. No damage at all on the display side, there is matrix contact on the back. The crystals are well-arranged on the minimal matrix which is the usual Albite and Muscovite. Most of the terminations show an unusual hoppering that is also unique to this one find.

Calcite with Stibnite inclusions
stock #8.1-410
Xikuangshan Sb Deposit, Lengshuijiang Co., Loudi Pref.
Hunan Province, China
8.2 x 5 CM (cabinet)
price: $950


A top quality example from a small recent (2008) find of rhombohedral Calcites included by lustrous Stibnite. A few of these were sold in Munich last year but nearly all had damage. We were fortunate to obtain at the source a few fine, esthetic and quite pristine pieces. There have been no more since. These are far more delicate and rare that the material found at Nandan in 1998, I expect these will also become modern classics and quite sought after. The glassy, translucent to transparent rhomb is 5.5 CM wide and has no eye visible damage. Magnification shows only a few rough spots on edges. The Stibnites are clearly visible inside the calcite. Esthetic and displayable from several angles.