Rhodochrosite with Elpidite etc.
stock #23.1-151
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Québec,
Canada
3.7 x 2.6 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $690
A superb small miniature or "toenail" with a sharp triagonal Rhodochrosite perched on top. In excellent condition the Rhodo is the classic form from Mont St. Hilaire, and has the triagonal center hopper in the center of the largest crystal. Lots of additional micro crystals and species are on the specimen but the Rhodochrosite is really the dominant focal point, it is 2.2 CM across and has very good color. What looks like chipping or damage on a top edge is actually well crystalized with tiny step faces. The Rhodochrosites of Mt St Hilaire took several forms but the triagonal crystals are still the most distinctive and are incredibly rare at all other localities. This specimen was found more than 30 years ago, they were never common and there is nothing now. Classic and esthetic!
Fluorite - spinel twins
stock #23.1-224
Hohenstein Massif, Omaruru District
Erongo Region,
Namibia
2.8 x 1.4 x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $660
Killer thumbnail of multi color Fluorite in a flat and elongated spinel twin form. From the 2021 pocket on Hohenstein (Erongo, Namibia) which had a very special and unique look to many crystals, this is a perfect, complete and choice small wonder. The internal color play is very impressive in person, purple, green lighter violet and yellow to orange colors are zoned. The yellow-orange is a concentrated in a faden-like line that runs the length of the crystal. It is almost impossible to describe the crystal complexity, some faces are glass clear, these alternate with some frosted or etched faces. Looks fine from almost any angle and with backlight glows very well. We were able to select our specimens very early from the pocket contents and all were chosen with care for best quality, esthetics and interest. A few tiny crystals are scattered on one edge and are also spinel twins. This find is among the most important of the past few decades of Erongo Fluorite, the habit and quality are unlike anything else.
Pyrrhotite - rare penetration twin
stock #14.1-100
Dalnegorsk, Kavalerovo Mining District
Primorsky Kray,
Russia
4.1 x 2.9 x 2.8 CM x 2.9 (miniature)
price: $760
Textbook perfect, complete and sharp this is an unusual type of twin for Pyrrhotite. With small areas of Galena and Sphalerite, this is essentially all Pyrrhotite. In excellent condition as seen, no damage at all but the usual tension cracks are seen as is typical though there is no repair or instability. Great golden patina and displays well from most any angle, a choice Dalnegorsk piece and an excellent twin Pyrrohotite. Since Pyrrhotite is generally found in hexagonal crystals, the penetration twin has 4 terminations showing with six sides on each end, all at 90 degrees from each other. This is only the second such twin I have ever seen.
Fluorite - zoned, new find from southern Illinois
stock #23.1-263
Leadhill Mine area, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
5.6 x 4.5 x 3.8 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $600
From a series of small finds at the Lead Hill Mines in 2022, this is a glassy, sharp and vivid piece. The zoning is the classic phantoms of cubic internal boxes. Color varies from deep purple to a light violet to almost colorless. There is internal Chalcopyrite as well but very small. The base and backside have cleaves where this was in contact but most of the specimen is fine. A few from this find had zoned fluorescence, this one does and has some zones of the rare red color along with more typical blue and white zones. For several years we all have been missing new Fluorites from the great southern Illinois districts, the mines are closed and mostly exhausted. This recent trickle of nice pieces are very welcome in the mineral community. They are also a bit different from others in the region and make a nice addition for any good Fluorite suite.
A well-positioned Zircon crystal dominates this thumbnail specimen from Bancroft, Canada. The Zircon from this locality are variety Cyrtolite and this specimen has a very well-formed red- brown crystal that is perfectly exposed and is doubly terminated. Ex Hitchings collection obtained in 1969. Slightly translucent the crystal is not damaged but on the backside is some contacting not seen from any display angle.
Anglesite on Galena
stock #16.1-370
Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
7.3 x 5.9 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $180
Several well-formed Anglesite crystals are scattered on a nearly pure Galena matrix. From the famed Broken Hill Mines, the Anglesites are milky white, undamaged and well-exposed. These show the blocky habit well and reach up to 1 CM though 5-7 MM is average.
Beryl - etched crystal
stock #23.1-660
Medina Pegmatite field, Pedra Azul District
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
2.3 x 1.0 x .9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $360
A fine thumbnail of etched green to yellow hue Beryl crystal. This is doubly terminated from the famed Medina finds of Minas Gerais. This color is exactly between a Heliodor and Aquamarine, depending on the type of light it is seen in it will look like either. A very nice thumbnail with tapered termination on one end and a flat one on the other side. Fully transparent, this is an older piece from the 1970 era, ex. Les Hitchings collection. In excellent condition as seen.
A fine Italian Garnet specimen with two generations of Grossular on sharp Clinochlore crystals. The smaller Grossular are gemmy red and very bright in color. The larger Garnets are a deeper orange to brown color and also very lustrous. In very good condition overall, there are some broken areas but only on the outer perimeter. Classic and pretty.
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