Digenite with Pyrite and Quartz
stock #0445-JM-2361
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County
Montana,
United States
7.7 x 6.1 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $540
new year 2021
A choice and classic Butte specimen of Digenite crystals on a contrasting matrix. Normally Digenite is an unattractive sooty black rarity, loved only by serious Sulphide lovers (like us). This specimen is very much nicer, and actually displays well. These crystals are quite good sized, and are well set on a sparkling bright contrasting matrix. The crystals of Digenite are usually rather crude and these are too, but still have a distinct form showing structure. The largest crystal is about 1.5 CM across. Contrasts well with the sharp and bright golden Pyrite. In excellent condition, this is ex John Marshall Collection with his collection card. He obtained this in 1979 from A.L McGuinness and that label is also included.
Chalcocite pseudo after Covellite - Classic USA
stock #13.1-375
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County
Montana,
United States
3.4 x 3.3 x 2.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2400
Fantastic form and a killer pseudomorph. This vintage Butte specimen shows perfectly the form of the original Covellite crystals which are almost fully replaced by Chalcocite. It looks like a tiny bit of Covellite may remain on the backside, but if so it is minor. This is an early specimen with excellent provenance, a tattered Roy Hopping (NYC Mineral dealer vintage 1898) label is included. This was also in the collection of Louis Zara (famed NYC collector, author and publisher of the Mineral Digest. His label is also included. The specimen is in exceptional condition, fully undamaged and attractive from almost any angle. Well-crystallized Covellite is remarkably rare worldwide with only two significant localities, both long closed. It is even less common to see a well-defined pseudomorph with sharp crystals like this.
A superb specimen of Wurzite from Butte, Montana that is a significant piece, despite being a "black ugly" one. Ex collection of Wallace Gould Levison which he obtained in 1903 from the Roth Collection. The locality detail is quite good for this period, this is attributed to the Gagnon Mine. The original price was $1.50 which was a lot of money at that time, I have not seen a better Wurtzite from Butte. Some Wurtzites from Butte are found to be Sphalerite after analysis, probably pseudomorphs. This was confirmed as Wurtzite but there is considerable Sphalerite as well. The Barite is present as small blades, a minor association. The Wurzites are clustered in shallow vugs and show the typical hexagonal form. The Levison label remains affixed to the specimen and we will provide a photocopy of the relevant page from the Levison collection ledger. This is a choice piece for any good Butte or Sulfide suite.
Digenite is one of the "real mineral collector" species, it is rare in decent crystals and usually sooty black (ie ugly). The world's best Digenites all came from Butte Montana long ago. They are classics and only seen from the breakup of old collections. This specimen is a complex cluster of small crystals and masses along with Enargite in small lustrous crystals and related Sulfides. The Digenite is mostly the sooty black sort which is often a coating of Chalcocite. This is a nice specie sample in good condition and very entertaining to study under magnification. It is not beautiful to most people but it is rare, old and something special for Sulfide lovers.
Enargite -classic Butte, USA
stock #19.1-252
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County
Montana,
United States
4.8 x 3.9 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $250
Spring 2020
A Butte, Montana classic, well crystallized miniature. This has a more metallic silvery color than the usual sooty black and the crystal definition is very sharp. What may look like damage in a few crystals in the photos is not damage just the result of multiple faces that are very lustrous, in person the condition is clean. Ex Fred Meissner collection. With old Butte pieces it is especially good to have detail of the exact mine locale. This has more detail in the label than most specimens it is noted as from the 3200 foot level in the Leonard Mine. Sharp crystals up to 2.3 CM long, a choice copper sulphide specimen that is actually attractive and better in person.
Covellite with Pyrite
stock #0195-JM-1294
Leonard Mine, Butte, Silver Bow County
Montana,
United States
5.4 x 4.3 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
Several free standing crystals of Covellite on different sides of the Pyrite matrix are showing dark blue patina. From the remarkable collection of John Marshall who worked at the mine from 1950 to 51. John worked as a miner despite his Harvard education he enjoyed the direct contact and collecting during his lunch breaks. His hand painted mark is on the specimen #1294. The crystals are quite lustrous and in rather good but not perfect condition as is typical for this delicate mineral, far better than average. The Pyrite is in both small octahedrons and other more complex pyritohedrons. The Covellites of Butte have always been prized and are hard to find with any quality and often incredibly costly when they are exceptional A good value.
Duftite on Quartz
stock #17.1-795
Black Pine Mine, Flint Creek Valley, John Long Mts., Granite Co.
Montana,
United States
12.8 x 9.3 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
A large plate of Quartz crystals up to 2 CM in size are thickly coated with Duftite in olive-green spheres. An old specimen from the Black Pine Mine that is famed for the great Veszelyite finds there. I have not seen another specimen quite like this from any USA locality it looks like a dark botryoidal Tsumeb Duftite on a Montana Quartz. An unidentified coating of brighter yellow is also present and adds some contrast. it is a very significant and sizable Duftite specimen with a lot of character. In good condition overall there are a few tiny chips on some Quartz but most are perfect and undamaged. The Black Pine mine has a complex and wonderful mineral assemblage including many uncommon associates. This piece is significant for the locale is the best USA Duftite I know of. Ex Chris Amo collection.
Enargite -Classic locale
stock #16.1-601
Leonard Mine, 3800 foot level, Butte
Montana,
United States
5.2 x 4.8 x 3.9 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $380
Spring 2019
A cluster of unusually bright, lustrous and sharp Enargite crystals with a few small Pyrite and Quartz on the edges. In excellent undamaged condition with Enargites free standing up to 1.7 CM. A choice, classic Leonard Mine (Butte, Montana) specimen from the golden age of mining there. The flashy luster on this black Copper Sulphide is quite esthetic (and even attractive for a black mineral)compared with the more usual sooty black specimens.