Goethite - iridescent filigree form
stock #22.1-636
Hot Springs, Garland County
Arkansas,
United States
7.2 x 3.3 x 2 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
Pre Tucson
Delicate twisting strands, fingers and branches of Goethite with colorful iridescence. The patina ranges from blue and purple to red and yellow colors. This specimen and a few others of this style were found some decades ago. These have a very unusual morphology and are super attractive. The material was mentioned in the “what’s new†column of Tom Moore in the Mineralogical Record. There were not many and the source was the sale of an older collection in Arkansas, the Goethite was a one off find at a construction site. Unusual and pretty these are really a very different look for the specie.
Wavellite
stock #20.FC-090-(9130)
Mauldin Mountain, Montgomery County
Arkansas,
United States
5.1 x 3.3 2.3 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $220
New Year 22
An isolated, distinct hemisphere of Wavellite on contrasting matrix. A USA classic from Mauldin Mountain, the sphere is composed of tightly packed crystals that have a nice sheen in person. In excellent condition, the color is a little deeper than the photos show. An older specimen, these Wavellites are considered by many as the best from the USA and yet still quite affordable for a nice piece.
Wavellite
stock #21.1-227
Dug Hill, Avant, Garland County
Arkansas,
United States
6.5 x 3.8 x 2.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
Early summer 2021
Wavellite balls are well-formed with most of each sphere protruding out from the matrix. In excellent condition as seen, these balls under strong lighting have noticeable sparkle. Most spheres also have a good apple green color though a few show a whitish alteration in spots. An American classic, this is an excellent example, far better than typical and with balls up to 1.4 CM which is also much larger than typical. Wavellite is a fairly common Phosphate worldwide but these better Arkansas specimens are quite exceptional for the specie and most collectors agree these are the world's best.
Brookite on Quartz
stock #AX-10-1003
Magnet Cove, Hot Springs County
Arkansas,
United States
8 x 4.4 x 3.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $185
new year 2021
Several very sharp Brookite crystals up to 1.2 CM scattered on Quartz matrix. The Brookites are the mirror bright metallic black type. A classic older Magnet cove specimen in excellent condition, this is accompanied by a label from The Bradleys (Los Angeles, California) which dates this piece in their stock between 1952-1958. An even earlier collection number is pasted on the specimen back Most of the Quartz crystals on this are sharp and complete, unlike much Magnet Cove Quartz with Brookite which are highly etched.
Brookite on Quartz
stock #18.1-454
Moses Hill, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co.
Arkansas,
United States
3.1 x 1.6 x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $75
Late Summer 2018
Sizable Brookites scattered on a Quartz crystal from the classic locality of Magnet Cove. Choice older piece with several habits of Brookite some of which are very lustrous in person. The Quartz is doubly terminated and is the usual milky to smoky type with some signs of corrosion that is distinctive to this locale. In excellent undamaged condition.
Smithsonite Pseudomorph after Dolomite
stock #15.1-583
Rush Creek, Marion Co.
Arkansas,
United States
10.2 x 6.7 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $300
Spring update
The classic habit of saddle shape Dolomite crystals completely replaced by sparkling smithsonite. The matrix is also nearly all Smithsonite and mostly composed of the rare red-orange color but also has zones of the more typical yellow. A long running debate concerns the color being caused by either Cadmium or Greenockite inclusions. To me it is a distinction without a difference, Greenockite is simply Cadmium Sulfide and so that Cadmium is ultimately the source for the color. In good condition, only a few very minor abrasions can be seen, the Dolomite saddles are quite large and stand well above the matrix.