Cubanite - very large crystals
stock #8.AE-702
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Québec,
Canada
5.3 x 4.3 x 1.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $2900
Early summer 2023
Large twinned crystals in a cluster with minimal matrix. The 2 largest crystals are 3.7 and 2.9 CM across which is huge for the specie. None of the 5 main crystals are perfect, all are either contacted or have some edge chipping. The right side crystal that looks broken in photos is mostly only contacted and has a stepped crystal growth on the edge. All crystals are a bright golden metallic and most show the classic twinning that is famed at this locale. While not for perfectionists this is still a substantial specimen and not 5 or 6 figures in price.
The Henderson Mine at Chibougamau closed forever in 1986. For a very short time the best Cubanites ever seen were produced, though great ones were still very rare. Today these are prized as modern classics and when perfect command very high prices. While this is not perfect it is still attractive and the crystals are exceptionally large.
Chabazite with Heulandite
stock #23.1-412
Wasson's Bluff
Nova Scotia,
Canada
8.3 x 5.2 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $170
Early summer 2023
Well-crystallized Chabazite with strong salmon-orange color. From the famed cliffs of Wassons Bluff, Nova Scotia, this was collected in 1967 by Les Hitchings. Over the years there have been many good specimens of Chabazite that are sometimes exposed in these cliffs by the tides. Most are pale pink but deeper orange color like this are the most desirable. A modern classic.
Spinel - large crystals on Diopside
stock #9.1-075
Near McDonald Island
Northwest Territories,
Canada
11.1 x 8.3 x 7.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $590
Spring 23
A large cabinet sized specimen with several sizable dark blue Spinel crystals prominently sitting on the matrix. A very fine example from this remote and little known area. This specimen was collected by Brad Wilson (a very well-known prolific field collector) and was later in the collection of, (and sold by), the late Ernie Schlichter, another well-respected field collector and mineral dealer. The Spinel crystals reach 3.6 CM in size and are nestled in a crystallized matrix of Diopside crystals. A very impressive specimen from a find many years ago, Mindat notes this Diopside skarn stating "The actual locality is a small unnamed island near MacDonald Island on the south coast of Baffin Island approximately 200 km northwest of Lake Harbour". This specimen has the largest crystals I have seen (although we have not seen more than a few, these are not common). No longer available except when collections are liquidated. The display side is in excellent condition, the back of the largest crystal is contacted though not visible from the front. A choice Skarn specimen unlike Spinels from most any other localities.
Diopside, Biotite
stock #13.1-364
Birds Creek (McFall Lake), Herschel Township, Hastings Highlands Municip
Ontario,
Canada
5.1 x 4.3 x 3.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $350
Spring 23
Well-defined, lustrous Diopside crystal up to about 2 CM in a cluster with almost no matrix, just minor Biotite. An older specimen 1960 vintage from the Ruth and Andy Palmer and, also, the William Hladysz collections. The crystals look dark green in normal lighting but with backlight they are translucent and show a bright yellow-green hue. Attractive and in fine condition, it looks similar to classic Dekalb New York specimens, but is from the Bancroft area. This is one of the best we have seen from the area.
SOLD Elpidite
stock #SOLD 18.1-088
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Québec,
Canada
6.1 x 3.8 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
Spring 23
An exceptional and fine example of this rather rare Sodium Zirconium Silicate. From the famed find in 1989, many consider these specimens to be the best ever of the specie. The slender pointed crystals are lustrous, transparent and clustered into several sprays. There are just something like 40 known Zirconium minerals, most are super rare, and only a few can form attractive crystals. This is a particularly good looking Elpidite and since this era at St-Hilaire, there have not been anything like these found since.
HOLD Fluorite - modern classic, Canadian
stock #HOLD 13.1-308
Madoc, Centre Hastings, Hastings County
Ontario,
Canada
6.8 x 5.4 x 2.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $390
Spring 23
From the famed Madoc finds in eastern Canada, a vintage 1960 era specimen with well-formed dodecahedral and cubo-octahedral crystals. Typically Fluorites from this zone have a confused look in that they have many faces and stepped edges, these are more defined than usual with textbook clear structure. This has a thin gossan-like matrix but is mostly all Fluorite. The crystals have a slight zoning with the centers being a brighter mint-green and the outer areas less saturated. In very good condition overall, just some outer edges have minor chipping, all the main crystals are complete and undamaged.
A sizable and rich rarity from the type locality, ex Palmer and Hladysz collections. The rarest specie in the family of Hauchecornite minerals is Tellurohauchecorite, only known from two localities worldwide. Only a few confirmed specimens are known. Mindat has only a single photograph, an SEM view. This specimen has several zones of silvery masses mixed with Pyrite and was confirmed by Dr. Joe Mandarino. This specie is almost never seen in collections or on the market. In addition this is a sizable sulphide matrix which could be trimmed to produce several small specimens. We prefer it in this size.
Super esthetic spray of fine Serandite crystals showing excellent color. This is a sizable specimen showing excellent form. An older Mt St Hilaire specimen found over 3 decades ago this is distinctly different from later finds. The salmon-orange color is also indicative of these very prized older crystals, most later finds were more pale pink and many on analysis proved to be Schizolite and not a true Serandite. This piece is the real thing, in very good condition overall, most crystals are prismatically terminated and a few are the hackly type. Some few small bruises are noted but this is still an exceptional quality piece of this rare mineral from the world's greatest locality for the specie.
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