Smoky Quartz (alpine gemmy)
stock #8.DK-134
Tujetsch, Vorderhien Valley
Grischun (Grisons),
Switzerland
4.4X1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $140
Gem clear, sharp and clean is what everyone looks for in a Swiss quartz. This is a fine small example with the lovely red brown color that makes these so distinctive. While this could be sold as a perfect example, 10x magnification and strong lighting can find some very tiny chips, so this is just "near perfect". Still an excellent small alpine crystal reasonably priced.
A very good example from this now classic find in Rhode Island. Light purple cap to the piece has very minor chipping but is far better than most which have easily noticed damage. The milky shaft provides great contrast and the overall impression is excellent. These scepters are quite rare on the market and this is a good one.
A fine and sizable classic silver psudo in outstanding condition. Very esthetic, a dense cluster of wires and branches cover the top side of the matrix which has been artfully etched from the enclosing calcite. Presents perfectly, this is an older piece from one of the greatest silver localities in Europe.
Excellent complex array of wires stand up over 3 CM from the matrix in esthetic branches. The matrix is a very rich, heavy ore with many small vugs filled with micro calcites, silvers and what looks like Chlorargyrite. A very fine Silver from a less well known Chinese locale that has not produced much for the past few years. Quite different from the Shanxi Province Silvers that are better known.
Clear Fluorites (very light green) are the matrix for Native Silver, Acanthite and other silver minerals. Some of the Fluorite is included by these minerals - it is best appreciated with magnification. A single sharp Sphalerite crystal is partially coated with Acanthite and a film of Silver. Micro-crystals that appear to be Polybasite are also noted. A very different sort of Silver specimen!
Sphalerite on Quartz with Calcite
stock #6.2-605
Shuikoushan Lead Zinc Mine, Changning, Hengyang Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
8.1 x 7 CM (cabinet)
price: $400
A very fine, large (3.9 CM) sharp and glassy Sphalerite sits on the matrix of Dolomite coated with Quartz and minor Calcite. When back-lit the Sphalerite glows Orange Red. The crystal is complete with no damage. Very esthetic.
Proustite
stock #7.AE-210
Bou Azzer District, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province
Souss- Massa- Draa Region,
Morocco
6.5 x 5.8 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $860
A very rich, aesthetically presented and fine specimen of the rarest of the Ruby Silver minerals, Proustite. A large 4.6 CM crystalized mass of nearly pure Proustite in association with minor Acanthite crystals rises from the matrix. There is no visible damage even under 10x magnification. The individual Proustites are brilliant ruby color, lustrous and well-formed up to 3 mm in size and arranged on clusters. A great piece that shows the specie well from a great Silver locality. While this is not going to compete with the best old German and Chilean examples, it is affordable and pretty. This is one of the best I have seen from Morocco, likely from the Imiter Mine but I can not confirm the locality beyond the Bou Azzer region.
A remarkable piece from the legendary classic Manganite locality of Ilfeld, this piece has many fine, large crystals to 3.4 CM in size standing out from the matrix and showing the Manganite form perfectly. Collected from a rediscovered 15th century dump and adit area in 2006, the site is now closed and only a small number of specimens were recovered. A fantastic Psuedomorph, a fine Ilfeld piece and a great bit of mineral history, this is a "black rock" with a lot of class and form!
