Olmiite (Poldervaartite)
stock #8.AE-945
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
2.9 x 2.8x .8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $180
Late Summer 2021
A cute thumbnail of what was once a very rare mineral. This find was very important and large, the mineral was no long incredibly rare and it was also realized most of these were actually more accurately identified as another rare mineral, Olmiite. The South African discovery was and is the world's best and for all practical purposes the only locality for good specimens. This piece has a nice 1.8 CM crystal with the faces showing complex modification so it looks stepped and rounded. In fine condition, the color seems to vary depending on the light source from a brownish to orange hue. The matrix is a thin plate with a druse of clear Calcite crystals.
Rhodochrosite
stock #18.1-538
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
9 x 7.4 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1850
new year 2021
An excellent cabinet sized Rhodochrosite that is of an unusual habit for N'Chwaning. Rhodo crystals fully cover the face of this large plate of Manganite matrix. From the display side just a sliver of the underlying black Manganite crystals can be seen. The hundreds of tiny sparkling Rhodochrosite crystals are sharp transparent scalenohedra most being free standing when seen under magnification. In excellent condition, there is no damage found by naked eye and under magnification only micro bruises on edges can be found with some difficulty. The sparkling luster and undulating surface make an attractive cabinet sized specimen from this famed mine. The color is not the intense red that some N'Chwaning Rhodos have but is a good red to pink-rose hue. This is also not a 5 figure specimen it is a very good value for a sizable, undamaged Rhodo from this famed, classic locale.
Thaumasite
stock #19.1-422
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
3.1 x 2.6 x 2.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $650
A sharp and very choice thumbnail of Thaumasite crystals on matrix in excellent condition. The crystals all have a pale color and are transparent with a slightly milky look at some angles. The largest prism is just under 2 CM long. No damage. The best of this uncommon specie was found a few years ago at NChwanning, and those are now quite scarce. This piece is from that find.
Hematite coated by Andradite
stock #13.1-420
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
5.8 x 3.4 x 3.2CM (cabinet)
price: $1400
Spring 2017
A Kalahari classic, sharp and lustrous Hematite crystals are nearly covered with blood-red Andradite Garnets. In very good condition the only damage to note is on the outer edges. From a find made over 20 years ago, these coated Hematites are now rarely seen on the market. In person the red hue is deeper than the photos show. A few areas of mirror bright Hematite are exposed where the garnet layer has come off. From the famed NChwaning Mine that is more famed for the great Rhodochrosites. A very desirable specimen of this unique find.
From a new, exciting small find of bright Rhodochrosite from the famed N'Chwanning Mine. This locale is world famed for the great finds made over 20 years ago. Good pieces from the old pockets are now some of the most expensive mineral specimens on the planet. The new zone was very small, it had a similar look (but with some differences) to some earlier finds. The color is a deep pink-red that can be almost electric under some lighting. This is a fine example with distinctive, sharp spheres of bright, sparkling Rhodo. Very good display quality that looks great from several angles.
Jacobsite on and in Calcite (exceptional)
stock #AX-14-261
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Kuruman,
South Africa
7.5 x 5.8 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $950
Spring 2014
A world class specimen of this rare mineral! Big (up to 7 cm) Calcite crystals are the matrix for hundreds of sparkling, lustrous Jacobsite crystals. Jacobsite is rarely found much bigger than micro sized. The best come from the Kalahari and this has by far the best esthetics I have ever seen. Sharp, bright groups of silvery-black crystals are nicely scattered on the contrasting Calcite. The Calcite is in excellent condition and the dark Jacobsite can be clearly seen inside the crystals. Rare black minerals are reputed to be ugly, this is not!
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