Hopeite - modern classic
stock #23.FC-06
Broken Hill (Kabwe Mine) Kabwe District
Central Province,
Zambia
9.6 x 5.4 x 5.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $790
Spring 23
A very large, well-crystalized specimen of this rare hydrous Zinc Phosphate. All sides of this specimen are encrusted with rust-red color orthorhombic crystals, most of which have distinct form and are coated with a sparkling druse of tiny crystals that seem to be a second generation of transparent colorless Hopeite. This locality had produced the very best of this specie most of which were found when Zambia was still called Rhodesia. No new finds are reported, these classic specimens are only available from older collections.
Tarbuttite (Type locality) with Scholzite
stock #20.1-903-(ZS-TAR4257)
Broken Hill (Kabwe Mine) Kabwe District
Central Province,
Zambia
7.1 x 6.1 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $300
new year 2021
An open cavity fully lined with sharp, clear Tarbuttite crystals and with close exam some white acicular Scholzite crystals. Tarbuttite is quite rare worldwide but from two localities it was found at one time in good amounts and in high quality. The old Broken Hill (Zambia) and the Skorpion Mine in Namibia have both produced some well-crystallized and attractive specimens. These locales had a completely different look. This Broken Hill (Kabwe Mine) piece has lustrous, gemmy clear and very sharp crystals that are in fine condition overall and contrast with the matrix well. Choice and displays very well.
North-Western Province,
Zambia
9.2 x 1.7 x 1 CM (cabinet)
price: $170
A single Quartz prism, doubly terminated and complete all around with a color range from light yellow to a darker orange yellow at the tips. From a find about 3 years ago in Zambia, the best locality informaqtion we have is North-Western Province. The habit and form is quite different from the other Zambian locale in Luapula. If this locality produces again we will likely get better details on the exact source, but until there is more info we can still appreciate the quality of these specimens. All of the faces have a light frosting but the interior is gem clear with no clouding. The crystals were sold as gem rough but a few choice pieces were saved uncut.
Tarbuttite and Pyromorphite
stock #15.1-455
Kabwe Mine (Broken Hill Mine) Kabwe
Central Province,
Zambia
6.5 x 3.1 x 2.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $180
Two habits of Tarbuttite crystals are contrasted by distinctive green Pyromorphites. An unusual combination of species, I have not seen these together before. The Tarbuttite is very sharp and in distinct crystals, the Pyromorphite has the unusual habit of pointed pinacoid terminations (many are doubly terminated) and are color zoned with a transparent area in the center. This locality (Kabwe) was known as the Broken Hill mine of Northern Rhodesia, from 1906 until 1964. This is an older specimen.
Libethenite -rosette on matrix
stock #15.1-506
Nkana Mine, Kitwe, Kitwe District
Copperbelt Province,
Zambia
4.5 x 34.4 x 2.2 CM (miniature)
price: $280
May 2015
A rosette of sharp and lustrous Libethenite crystals in a shallow vug that shows very well. We have looked carefully to see if there were any repairs or glue on this, it appears to be intact and undamaged. One of the more esthetic examples I have seen the rosette is 1.3 CM in size. An older specimen of a habit that has not been available for some time, the crystal forms are quite distinct and have a good deep green color.
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