Sphalerite on Siderite - German classic
stock #22.FC-020
Neudorf, Harzgerode, Harz
Saxony- Anhalt,
Germany
4 x 2.7 x 1.7 CM (miniature)
price: $1660
Early summer 2023
Choice, lustrous and quite rare, fine Sphalerite from the famed Neudorf Mines. This locale was worked for Silver and Lead mostly in the 18th century and closed in 1903. The mine is renowned for some of the world's best Galenas and Bournonites from that era which are among the world's great mineral treasures. Sphalerite however is far more rare from this locality, and good examples are almost never seen. This piece has a main crystal just under 2 CM in size, the Siderite is crystalized as yellow to brown rhombs and makes a nice contrast. The Sphalerites are mostly a lustrous black but at the right angles there are bright flashes of red color. A fine and very old miniature of this classic locale.
Sphalerite with Quartz
stock #8.1-439
Krushev Dol Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
10.4 x 7.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $325
Spring 23
As a rule, black Sphalerite is not a very attractive mineral, but this one is something special! Lustrous and sharp glassy Sphalerites to almost 3 CM are decorated with treelike growths of slender Quartz crystals. In great condition and with killer esthetics, the Sphalerites are well-positioned and show complex growth hillocks on many faces. Careful examination finds only minor edge wear on some Sphalerites, nothing distracting from the impact of this piece. Great for this specie and exceptional for this famous mineral region!
Sphalerite with Quartz
stock #4.2-421
Rucheng Mine, Caojia, Nuanshui, Chenzhou
Hunan Province,
China
6.2 x 5.1 x 4.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $280
Post Tucson 2022
A large, complex crystal of Sphalerite with a "crown" of clear Quartz crystals. This is a rather old specimen from a find in China in 2003 at the Rucheng Mine which is very close to the larger Shuikoushan operation and I am told may now be linked to it underground. The Sphalerites found at both these localities are of great importance and are impressive. The Rucheng area was noted for larger and often complex crystals like this with sizable Quartz where the Shuikoushan operations had smaller Sphalerites, lighter red color and druzy Quartz. This Sphalerite is dense and opaque except at the very outer thin edge. It is a deep brown color with some red and yellow highlights in spots and a small amount of Chalcopyrite as well. In good condition, there is no obvious damage but a few small rub points can be found, the Quartz is contacted in the back. We've seen nothing new from this locality for a few years and the mine has been idle for a while.
Sphalerite - triplet macle
stock #21-FC-010
Baia Mare
Maramures,
Romania
4.3 x 2.4 1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $390
New Year 22
A sharp, textbook perfect triplet or macle twin of Sphalerite on contrasting Dolomite. From the classic Romanian locale of Baia Mare, this is highly lustrous in person. The main twin is a prominent 1.8 CM triangle nicely centered in the center of this cute miniature specimen. Sphalerite is a mineral that is very often twinned, but this habit of triple joining is quite unusual.
Sphalerite - gemmy crystals
stock #18-AX-418
ZCA corporation / Pierrepont Mine, Pierrepont, St Lawrence County
New York,
United States
2.2 x 1.8 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $240
Late Summer 2021
A very lustrous Sphalerite thumbnail. This is a sharp and fully transparent honey-yellow crystal from a classic Northeastern US Locality. The ZCA Mine in Saint Lawrence County has been the source of many fine minerals. This specimen is twinned as seen and has several complex growth structures on some faces as well as some flat glass-like ones as well. A few rough edges from contacts but overall in very good condition. What looks like inclusions inside the crystals in the photos is actually other crystals on the backside seen through the clear Sphalerite. Not many of these make it to the market, this specimen is from an older collection and was collected at least 25 years ago.
Sphalerite (Cleiophane) and Galena on Quartz
stock #13.1-158
September 9th Mine, Madan Ore field, Rhodope Mts.
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
11.8 x 8.2 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $950
Early summer 2021
A very fine cabinet display specimen of gemmy yellow to dark green Sphalerite crystals on a contrasting drusy Quartz boxwork matrix. The Quartz druse sprinkled with cubes of Galena some of which have grown next to the Spahlerites. A classic association from the Madan area of Bulgaria, this is much better than most and in excellent condition. This presents the majority of the Cleiophane (gemmy Sphalerites) in a chain like cluster. These photos are not backlit but with a good light behind the Sphalerites they glow a vivid bright yellow-green which is fantastic in person.
Sphalerite (Rubyjack) historic specimen.
stock #AX-35-207
Quapaw tribal area, Ottawa County
Oklahoma,
United States
7.8 x 3.7 x 2.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
new year 2021
A very unusual looking specimen of Sphalerite with some bright red and darker crystals perched on a thin shard of Chert matrix. Ex Wallace Gould Levison collection, he obtained this piece in 1909 from the "northeast corner of the Quaparo Indian Territory, A zinc mine there" his notes give the source as George R. Osborn who was located in Kansas City, MO. This area we know today as the Quapaw territory of Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Mining had begun on the Indian territories in 1908 so this is a very early specimen. The area became a very important Lead Zinc supplier though the Indians were not compensated as agreed. Mining ended in 1950 but for a while this was the world's largest Pb Zn source. The specimen has well-formed crystals with the largest 2.3 CM. Smaller crystals are translucent to transparent and this is quite esthetic in person. We include a photocopy of Levison's original collection ledger page with this specimen. A very nice quality Tri-state classic specimen with unusual early provenance from an important US collection.
Sphalerite var. Schalenblende
stock #AX-35-108
Eagle Mine, Gilman District, Eagle Co.
Colorado,
United States
5.8 x 3.6 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $240
new year 2021
An oddity from Colorado, this unusual botryoidal Sphalerite is a complete floater, with a dark yellow-green color. This variety (Schalenblende) of Sphalerite is known in a very few other specimens from the Eagle Mine; most Sphalerite from there was the more normal lustrous black crystals. In fine condition, from the collection of Skylar Alverson obtained by him from Charlie Bowman in 1984. Excellent for a Colorado collection and a very rare Sphalerite from any place in the USA.
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