Barite on Quartz
stock #5.1-120
Jinkouhe town, Ebian
Sichuan Province,
China
6.8 x 4.5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $330
Winter 2016-17
Nice form and composition with a pleasing color contrast. The Jinkouhe locality in Ebian has produced tons of Barite some well-crystallized. Usually this Barite is pure white sitting on white Quartz with weak esthetics and little contrast. A few rare colored pieces have been found and this is a good one. A rich yellow zone in the Barite makes a fine contrast to the gemmy clear Quartz crystals. The main Quartz are undamaged but the matrix has some small broken stubs that are not very noticeable. The Barite is complete and grown around the Quartz. It sits and displays well. There is minor edge rub on the Barite and contacts on the back, but overall a very cute and esthetic arrangement.
Grossular Var Tsavorite with Quartz and Diopside
stock #13.1-372
Merelani, Umba Valley, Lelatama Mountains, Arusha Region
Arusha Region,
Tanzania
5.1 x 3.1 x 2.8 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $485
Winter 2016-17
A really cute, bright specimen covered in sharp, gem grade Demantoid Garnets offset by a Quartz crystal. Finds of these Garnets have been sporadic and very few have had this sculptural form, grown on a Diopside base. The Garnets fully cover the matrix on all sides, the smallest are a yellow color and the largest as seen are the Demantoid green. In great condition, damage-free and very lustrous, this is much better in person.
Serandite and Aegirine (rare form)
stock #A7-257-(439A)
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
6.9 x 2.6 x 2.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $880
Winter 2016-17
A delicate sculptural Serandite specimen with a delicate salmon color. Ex Larry White collection, this is composed of the uncommon blade-like habit crystals inter-grown in parallel arrangement. Collected in 1980 by Ernie Schlicter, this is unlike most Serandite, the flat crystal form is very rare, and with the mine closed there are no more to be found. The spike-like crystal of Aegirine is a nice accent.
Pectolite is not usually an attractive mineral and good prismatic crystals are quite rare. This is a strong exception to that rule. More than 25 years ago a series of pockets at the Jeffrey Mine produced some of the most perfect and esthetic specimens of this usually drab mineral. Several crystals are transparent and all others are translucent. A perfect undamaged floater there is no matrix or point of attachment. Outstanding for the specie, choice, very large and rarely available now.
Top rich purple color, fine form and in excellent condition, this is a very choice Karur flower. These radiating clusters of crystals are distinctive, and unlike "flower-like" radiating groups found anyplace else, top pieces can have gem clear deep colored crystals and brilliant luster. This is one of that caliber. Few have such perfect condition and intense color, there is only one tiny spot of chipping on the backside, the front is fully perfect. In addition the crystals are Rutilated, with magnification they are densely filled with red needles of Rutile. Several crystals show scepter forms or the rare hollow hexagonal cavity in the terminations. Very exotic, unusual and pretty specimen.
Sperrylite is a scarce Platinum Arsenide that has only been found in good crystals at just 3 locations worldwide. This is an especially nice association piece with both Platinum and Gold on the same specimen. This is an older example from the Vermillion Mine (the type locale) and ranks as one of the very best examples I have seen from this deposit. A series of Gold veins and bleb run through the matrix mostly on the back side. Recent finds at Broken Hammer and earlier finds in Siberia have produced some larger crystals that are are best for the mineral but are also very expensive. This specimen is not of the top caliber but still very good and not priced in the 5 or 6 figures! A sharp, very bright lustrous metallic cube and some complex modified octahedra are nestled on the contrasting Chalcopyrite. Mostly intact and quite fine for the specie and locale.
A nearly pure mass of Manganite that is the matrix for a well-crystallized vug filled with sharp Manganite crystals and white Barites. Ex Patricia Barker collection, this is a fine condition specimen and certainly a older vintage piece. Not quite the usual habit for the location, the crystals are sharp and lustrous.
Scapolite - gem crystal with "cat's-eye" luster
stock #16.1-198
Morogoro, Uluguru Mountains
Morogoro,
Tanzania
3.1 x 1.6 x 1.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $400
Winter 2016-17
A clear, mostly colorless terminated crystal with a vibrant orange core that gives the entire crystal a rich color. The cat's eye effect is very strong and has a distinct "shimmer". In very good condition, with very minor contacts and no eye visible damage or chips. Scapolite is a common mineral, but good gem grade is quite rare, this locality has produced very few fine pieces like this one. A good value.
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