A very fine Bournonite crystal well-perched on a Barite crystal matrix. The Bournonite is sharp, complete, undamaged and very lustrous, 2.5 CM across showing classic twinning on the edges. In person the striations on the flat face are very distinct and reflect light well. It is especially rare to have the Bournonite so well-exposed, pristine and brilliantly metallic. Ex. Eric Asselborn collection. He notes this is from Le Reservoir find at Saint-Laurent-le-Minier. This is a less well-known locality which is some distance from the well-known Les Malines area. This zone is famed for the best Bournonites of France and some of the best in the world.
Bournonite with Siderite on Quartz - classic German
stock #20.1-896-(ZS-BRN4125)
Pfaffenberg Mine, Neudorf, Harzgerode, Harz Mts.
Saxony- Anhalt,
Germany
2.6 x 2.1 x 2.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $480
New Year 22
A superb classic thumbnail specimen from the famed Neudorf area, best known for world-class Galenas and rarely some great Bournonites. In flawless undamaged condition. These Bournonites are bright, lustrous metallic crystals on a matrix of sparkling white Quartz that is also the host for fine Siderite crystals. This can be displayed in several orientations, it is almost impossible to find a choice thumbnail like this from Neudorff today. A few earlier labels are included, this sort of specimen is certainly very old.
A cabinet sized cluster of intergrown Bournonite crystals with a scattering of sharp, lustrous Sphalerites. This is not from the famed region of Les Malines in Gard, well-known as a major classic locality for Bournonites, this specimen is from an unusual locality at Saint-Laurent-le-Minier which is also in Gard. Mindat list this as a source of Bournonite but has no examples pictured. These crystals are up to 2.6 CM and are covering almost the entire specimen. These have a dark patina, some edges show classic cogs-wheel form but most are prismatic and well-defined. The Sphalerites are a mixture of lustrous black and red-orange crystals some of which are transparent. The minerals coat the matrix everywhere except for a small spot on the underside. A choice French Bounonite with a little different look than the usual more metallic specimens. Ex John Marshall collection obtained by him in 1969.
Bournonite
stock #6.2-892
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
3.1 x 2.6 x 1.5 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $350
new year 2021
A super bright "gun metal" luster Bournonite crystal which is doubly terminated. Some of the faces are perfectly smooth mirror-like while other are striated. From the Yaogangxian Mine which had the reputation for providing more fine Bournonite than the rest of the world's localities together. Before these finds this was a rather rare and sought after specie. There seems to be no twinning on this crystal which is unusual for Bournonite which is almost always twinned. Displays well as seen, there are some small chips on the terminations and the back is contacted but not damaged. While not perfect this is far better than 99.9 percent of these, and the rough areas are not excessive. As a whole Bournonites are notoriously brittle and most often incomplete.
Bournonite - unusual non-twinned crystals
stock #AX-19-089
Quiruvilca Mine, Santiago de Chuco Province
La Libertad Department,
Peru
6.8 x 3.7 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
new year 2021
Bournonite is so often twinned or in classic "cogs-wheel" form that untwinned crystals are quite rare. This Quiruvilca (Peru) specimen is that unusual sort, here are many Bournonite crystals, some over 1.2 cm but no twins. In fine condition overall most crystals are perfect but with good magnification some small areas of rough edges are found. For this notoriously fragile specie that is impressive. Some bright golden pyrite adds contrast to the dark silver-metallic Bournonite. For some reason the Pyrite at Quiruvilca Mine is often especially bright and lustrous, it seems to be more stable than most and keeps the bright golden color much better than any other Pyrite I know. A fine addition to a serious Sulfide collection.
Bournonite with Quartz
stock #AX-15-164-(C147)
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
6.5 x 4.7 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $1150
A cluster of large Bournonite crystals that are complexly intergrown with only a single Quartz crystal as matrix. Ex Shields Flynn Collection, this has the fine "gun-metal" luster that is most desirable from Yaogangxian Bournonites. Some crystals exceed 3CM and show flat terminations and classic cogswheel form twinning. In very good condition despite some small bruises this is in far better condition than most. This specimen was displayed in the Tucson show special exhibit on Chinese minerals. This was an early (2000's vintage) obtained by Shields from Bert Ottens in the golden years of Chinese mineral finds.
Bournonite on Pyrite with Quartz
stock #20.1-131
Trepka Complex, Trepka Valley
Kosovska Mitrovica,
Kosovo
6.6 x 3.8 x 3.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Spring 2020
We see very few Bournonites from Trepka and almost never of good esthetics. This is a very pretty specimen with the best quality we have ever seen. The most prominent Bournonite crystal is perfect, undamaged 1.4 CM in diameter and has bright metallic luster. It is a textbook quality twin with cogswheel form on the edges. The whole piece has choice contrast with brilliant Pyrite forming most of the matrix. Trepka has been known as an excellent source of other Sulphides. This new find was small but had impressive Bournonites which is certainly newsworthy and exciting.
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