Almandine on Pegmatite - classic
stock #16.1-353
Hedgehog Hill Quarry, Peru, Oxford County
Maine,
United States
8.2 x 7.7 x 5.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Winter 2016-17
Several Garnets are scattered on the Pegmatite matrix but the main crystal is 3.3 cm perfectly perched in a nest of Mica. In fine condition and sharply formed this is a classic style Oxford County (Maine) specimen. Far better than most with a fine esthetic form, the face striations also are a bit more distinct that is typical. Choice Northeastern US specimen.
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.
Aragonite with a classic Copper blue-green coloring from the classic locality of Lavrion. Well-crystallized and esthetic. This can be backlit for a dramatic effect. Minor chipping of some terminations is not easy to notice from most display angles, but it also keeps the price lower for such a nice display specimen.
Axinite and Quartz
stock #AX-15-068
Dachang Ore Field, Nandan
Guangxi Province,
China
7 x 4.7 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $475
Winter 2016-17
An unusually well-crystallized Axinite from China that host well-perched doubly terminated Quartz crystals for a nice contrast. Ex Shields Flynn collection, this is older material from about 2004. The Nandan mines have mostly been shut down and were only producing good minerals for a few short years. The Axinites from the area are probably the best ever to come out of China. In excellent condition (few were not badly damaged) with the only real bruising at the outside edges. Very nice luster and three dimensional relief.
Rutile - doubly terminated
stock #16.1-329
Novo Horizonte
Bahia,
Brazil
6.2 x .9 x .7 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
Winter 2016-17
Big and lustrous with red highlights this is translucent to transparent on edges with a brilliant red when backlit. Crude but complete termination on both ends makes this an extra nice example. Better in person this is well above average, and not being found now.
Fluorite on Dolomite
stock #6.2-644
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
6.8 x 5.9 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Winter 2016-17
Choice and very esthetic, old type of Fluorite in stepped, modified cubo-octahedral crystals perched on contrasting milky Dolomite. Dark purple phantoms are seen in the center of the main crystals where the glassy "windowpane" face looks into the clear interiors. From vintage 2002 finds at Shangbao, this habit has not been found for several years. In fine condition there is a small clean contact on the back corner of the smaller crystal but no damage.
Yellow-hued crystals of transparent Smithsonite up to 2.5 cm long are sticking out in all directions on this complex yet esthetic piece. In outstanding condition overall, there is one crystal with a broken termination that will be hidden on most logical display angles. All of the other crystals are quite perfect. Without analysis I am not sure if this should be called Cadmian Smithsonite as many yellow examples are labelled. Choice and attractive.
Sharp crystals of Smithsonite cover a matrix of Cerussite with some twinned crystals showing. The Smithsonites are all perfect and undamaged. A nice association the milky-white Smithsonite crystals have nice contrast to the grey Cerussite.
