Pyromorphite - unusual acicular habit
stock #6.2-561
Daoping Mine, Gongcheng County, Guilin Prefecture
Guangxi Province,
China
6 x 3.4 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
A very delicate but elegant cluster of sharp slender Pyromorphite crystals from the amazing Daoping mine (Guanxi, China). This locality is famous for its lead minerals and the Pyro from here is distinctive. This piece is quite special as it is one of the very few examples of the jackstraw habit of needle-like crystals that were found in 2004. We obtained this specimen at the mine in that year where there were only a few like it with the miners. We never saw others there in later years and only a few ever in dealer inventory. This was sold shortly after but is back with us in a collection purchase. The condition is excellent, the color is a delicate pastel green and this is a very distinctive piece that can be displayed in several orientations. An fine Pyro from anyplace and a very remarkable piece for China.
Lazulite
stock #AX-27-011
Rapid Creek, Dawson Mining District
Yukon Territory,
Canada
7.5 x 4.9 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
A choice and very lustrous deep royal blue cluster of Lazulite crystals on matrix from the incredible find at Rapid Creek (Yukon, Canada) about 15 years ago. In fine condition as seen, this specimen is all Lazulite on the display face, some specimens were mixed with other Phosphate minerals but this one is pure blue. The crystals are 5-8mm or so in size, a bit larger than most, and these are free standing with very clearly defined form. One of the great collectable species of western Canada, and perhaps the world’s best examples of this specie come from this find. A very eye-catching piece this is much nicer in person too.
A small but exceptionally fine fan of sceptered Amethyst. No damage and with excellent color in the terminations, this is a choice small miniature from the remarkable finds at Karur in southern India. An excellent article in Lapis magazine describes these very special scepters in detail, the locality is unique in the world and this sort of habit is quite specific to this discovery.
SOLD Chalcedony on orange Scolecite
stock #SOLD 18.1-001
Malegaon, Nasik
Maharashtra,
India
5.1 x 3.3 x 2.4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $0
A very strange and fascinating specimen of what has been called Caviar Agate, forming translucent balls perched on needles growing from orange Scolecite. We have only ever seen examples of this from two small finds, very few specimens have made it to the market. This one has several options for viewing and display, the balls have a light gray to blueish hue and almost seem violet in some light. These are all perched of slender, transparent needles of Scolecite that extend from a radiating cluster that forms the base. A very nice piece for a Zeolite collection, or anyone who like really odd minerals!
Apatite on Fluoro Richterite
stock #24.1-635
Otter Lake, Pontiac County
Quebec,
Canada
7.1 x 4.7 x 2.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $200
Great specimen of a well-formed "Grenville Grunge" specie. So called by the dedicated collectors of the dark minerals found in the skarns of the Grenville Marbles (Precambrian Metamorphics). A cluster of complete, terminated Fluororichterite crystals is the matrix for yellow to orange color Apatite. The color of the Apatite is a bit unusual as most are more green to brown. The largest Fluororichterite is doubly terminated and 5.1 CM long. Many of the dark Amphiboles in this region are hard to identify accurately. This find was x ray checked by Dr. Joe Mandarino in the 1990 era when this zone was uncovered by Skylar Alverson. This was one of Skylar’s collection specimens. A very nice esthetic composition even if many think of dark Amphiboles as "grunge"!
Mimetite
stock #7.AE-027
Pingtouling Mine, Liannan, Sanjiang
Guangdong Province,
4.8 x 3.7 x 1.8 CM (miniature)
price: $390
A vivid yellow to orange cluster of lustrous Mimetite crystals that are up to 1 CM (most are smaller) from the now classic finds at Pingtouling. This mine had a brief period of producing world-class Mimetite that were noticeably different than any others before or since worldwide. The mine area collapsed and flooded over 20 years ago but today many now consider the Pingtouling Mimetites the world’s best. This is a small miniature specimen in very fine condition. The open vug helped to protect the delicate crystals and they are in very good condition as seen. In person the color is a bit more orange than the online photos can show.
Adamite crystals clustered on botryoidal gossan matrix showing purple terminations and almost white center areas. A very attractive older specimen from the great Mina Ojuela, the world’s best source for purple Adamite. The largest crystals are 2 CM tall and are free standing. In very fine condition with no damage visible. Purple Adamites are quite prized by collectors as these the rarest color. This sort of bicolor in such large and distinct crystals is even more uncommon.
Cuprite - classic Cornish, well-crystallized
stock #8.AE-703
Wheal Gorland, St Day, United Mines, Gwennap. Camborne, Redruth-St. Day
Cornwall,
England
5.7 x 4.4 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $770
A solid, rich mass of octahedral crystals, essentially all Cuprite, in an esthetic cluster. Ex British Museum (no old label was retained but the piece has been published) this is certainly a very old specimen. This was one of the most famous classic specimen localities in all of Cornwall, with the primary mining finished in 1851. Some later mining did occur but the produced little. There are hundreds of small Cuprite crystals on this piece, dark red in color and with a good sparkling luster. Larger crystals from here exist but in our experience they are a more dull dark brown red. A choice old English Copper, far better than typical from this famed mine.
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