Amethyst - unusual cactus style
stock #23.1-435
Boekenhoutshoek, Mkobola
Mpumalanga,
South Africa
7.5 x 6.8 x 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
An unusual form of especially choice quality that is a variation of the famed South African "cactus" Quartz. "Cactus" Quartz has been a staple at mineral shows for the past few years, so it takes something unusual to draw attention. This one does. Relatively slender prisms with dark purple terminations are covered with lighter violet druse of tiny Quartz. The druse is oriented in aligned rows of deeper and lighter colors, best seen in person. The purple prisms are on a matrix of orange to yellow drusy Quartz which adds a nice contrast and is an unusual combo. In fine undamaged condition all the tips are intact and sharp. The "cactus" Quartz supply has been sporadic for years and for more than a decade no new finds were made. Despite the quantity that has been found, really good or unusual pieces are quite special and deserve our respect. There is nothing else like these in the entire world and that is saying a lot since Quartz is so common in general.
Sussexite on Calcite
stock #24.1-116
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
6.2 x 3.9 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
A very fine and distinctive Sussexite from a very unusual locality, the famed NChwanning Mine of South Africa. The specie is best known from Franklin, New Jersey and is named for the county there. However the New Jersey specimens are normally massive or asbestos form fibrous clusters. This is very different with radiating balls of distinct crystals perched on bladed pink Calcites. This is a fairly rare Manganese Borate mineral almost never seen outside of Franklin, and almost never in attractive specimens. This is a nice exception to that rule. Excellent addition to any suite of Manganese minerals or NChwanning species.
Quartz - with inclusions of red Hematite
stock #AX-11-095
Orange River, Namakwa
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
5.5 x 1.7 x 1.5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $280
Pre Tucson
The occasional finds of red Quartz from the Orange River area of South Africa are well-known in the mineral world. This is a choice example with better than usual color intensity and nice form. Conjoined crystals of Quartz with transparent tops and opaque lower sections that contrast with the bright terminations. In great condition aside from a tiny tip contact that is hard to see with naked eye. This piece is from the last good find that was more than 5 years ago. An excellent value for quality / esthetics to price.
Fluorite - spherical crystals on Quartz
stock #22.1-257
Namakwa
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
4.4 x 2.6 x 1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $290
Early summer 2023
Fluorite balls on contrasting matrix with smaller gemmy cubes as well. The Fluorites are a deep purple, translucent, and the spheres show well-defined stepping modifications and crystalline structures under magnification. Fluorite balls are known from several localities but it is rare to see the crystal structure that created them, these spheres show very well the modifications that caused these to be round. In excellent condition.
Ajoite in Quartz - modern classic
stock #23.1-164
Messina Mine, Messina District
Limpopo Province,
South Africa
5.3 x 5.2 x 3.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $920
Spring 23
Two joined Quartz crystals with very distinct and vibrant inclusions of blue-green Ajoite. These are fully natural crystals which is quite rare (very often faces were polished or ground down to show the inclusions better). This has no such alterations, polishing or repairs of any sort and the crystal tips are sharp and complete. A custom made Acrylic display base is included as well. There have been no new finds of Ajoite like this for more than 15 years, these have become highly prized and usually very expensive. An excellent value for a modern classic.
A remarkable and rare habit of Fluorite, this from the Orange River area of South Africa. The larger Fluorite crystals on this specimen are hexagonal stacks of flat crystals which on close examination are seen to be flattened spinel twins with small square edge windows. A second generation of bright yellow Fluorite is encrusting some edges of the blue to purple large Fluorites. Such unusual forms and habits make Fluorite an incredibly diverse example of the cubic crystal system. These are also prized as exotics by Fluorite collectors. In excellent condition on the front and sides, the back is both contacted and partly cleaved which is not visible from the display side. Especially for those who enjoy strange crystal habits this is a choice and attractive specimen.
Rhodochrosite - classic scalenohedral crystals
stock #22.1-359
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
1.7 x 1 x .9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $480
Post Tucson 2022
A small but brilliant red thumbnail of gemmy Rhodochrosite from the N'Chwaning Mine (South Africa). This cluster of crystals has several perfect, complete terminations but there is some cleaving as well seen from one side. Despite many efforts to find more of this quality at the mines, nothing like these has been recovered for many years. These are highly sought after and larger examples are often priced in the mid 4 to 5 figures. This is a small but bright piece at a reasonable cost.
Sturmanite - large stacked crystals
stock #21.1-455
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
7.4 x 4.7 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1950
New Year 22
Very large and well-defined cluster of Sturmanite crystals with a patina that in some light shows a iridescent color play. Not long ago Sturmanite was a very rare mineral and such huge crystals were unheard of. The great finds from South Africa changed that, but this size and level of quality is still very uncommon. Very impressive in person and now very hard to get.
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