Fluorite- Classic English, with Galena
stock #15.1-554
Weardale North Pennines
Durham,
England
9.2 x 6.2 x 4.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
Pre Holiday 2017
Big, zoned purple Fluorites crystals with sharp edges and classic face modifications. As is typical of some english Fluorites like this there is daylight fluorescence. The outer edges of the cubes are clear while the center is a milky white to pale purple. In exceptional condition damage wise, there are a few dull Galena crystals with Goethite overgrowth that adding contrast. From an older collection, this was collected long prior to 1970. The largest cube is over 5 CM diagonal and the condition is excellent damage-wise.
Diopside with Grossular, intense green
stock #15.1-459
Orford Nickel Mine, St-Denis-de-Brompton, Estrie
Québec,
Canada
6 x 5.8 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $780
Pre Holiday 2017
Bright green Diopside with emerald green micro Grossular in an esthetic cluster from the famed Orford Mines. The Orford Nickle mines produced some excellent Diopside crystals but mostly grey or pale green in color. These very bright green crystals were often called "Chromian" for the color, but now are considered to be colored by Nickle instead. No matter the source these are an especially rich green and this specimen has many well formed, sharp and esthetic prisms to 1.5 CM tall. Very attractive and quite rare.
Catapleiite and Aegirine
stock #AX-16-497
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Québec,
Canada
7.4 x 2.8 x 2.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $2400
Pre Holiday 2017
A fine sculptural cluster of big (over 2.5 CM) Catapleiite crystals in rosettes are well placed on contrasting Aegirine crystals. Mont St Hillaire Catapleiites are considered the best ever found, although the Lovozero find was also world class, these had a sharp glasslike form unequaled. This is one of the most desirable St Hillaire species, and this is a far above average quality specimen. Well composed with several rosettes, all well formed and lustrous. A modern classic, these are very hard to get in this larger size and sharp quality. These are now almost never available like this.
Vesuvianite- single Crystal
stock #17.AX-840
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos
Québec,
Canada
3.2 x 1.1 x 1.0 CM (miniature)
price: $890
Pre Holiday 2017
The Vesuvianites that came out of the Jeffrey Mine are the most colorful and desirable in the world. This crystal has a two tone green color, gem clear areas and a sharp, perfect termination. Close examination shows what may be parallel growth or complex twinning. Overall a fine condition, undamaged prism with excellent color and bright luster. Found in 2002. Relatively affordable for this level of quality. Since the mine closed, these are fast becoming rare and very expensive when available.
Vanadinite- Intense red, modern classic locale
stock #17.1-746
Pure Potential/ N. Geronimo Mine, Silver dist., Trigo Mts, La Paz County
Arizona,
United States
7.1 x 4,9 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Pre Holiday 2017
The Pure Potential (or North Geronimo) mine has become famed for outstanding Vanadinites, some of the best ever found in the Americas. Top pieces have an intense red color that is distinctive. This piece has that color and crystal sizes are above average for the hexagonal non hoppered type. Well isolated on a contrasting dark matrix the specimen has fine luster and flash. Several of the Vanadinites have some Calcite prisms sprinkled on them best seen with magnification. Nearly perfect only one small zone has some micro damage, the rest of the hundreds of sharp crystals are impressively perfect. The mine closed back to the late 1800s but in the past few decades has been worked for specimens with occasional finds of fine pieces like this. A USA classic and a pretty specimen from anyplace.
Cobaltite - Modified Cubic crystal
stock #17.1-748
Hakansboda, Lindesberg
Vastmanland,
Sweden
3.6 x 2.4 x 2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $190
Pre Holiday 2017
A sharp 9 MM metallic silver crystal with clear edge modifications perched in matrix. An older specimen from this classic location that has produced perhaps the best ever crystals for the specie. Some minor sulfide overgrowths are seen and the crystal has retained the bright luster that makes these so distinctive. Could easily be trimmed to make a thumbnail if desired. A good example well crystallized for this often damaged specie that is also affordable.
Chalcedony
stock #17.1-286
Mamuju area, Sulawesi Barat province
Sulawesi Island,
Indonesia
8.5 x 4.9 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $120
Pre Holiday 2017
There is a lot of Manakarra "grape" Chalcedony in the market, but some specimens do stand out. This is complete piece, a floater, undamaged and with fine form. The color ranges from a brilliant wet look purple to a more subdued lilac hue. A dusting of tiny green Quartz adds extra sparkle. Very affordable for this quality, displays well on all sides
Gem blue-green crystals of Indicolite (Elbaite) standing free from contrasting matrix from early finds at Pederneira. Esthetic arrangement, the Tourmalines have complex multi-pointed terminations that may be recrystallized. One smaller crystal is broken and there is what looks like one small repair, but the larger prisms are fine and undamaged. Nearly all of these have many repairs but this smaller one seems a lot more intact than most. The longest crystal is 3.7 CM. Larger specimens of this color and habit are seen in top collections and sell at the very top of the spectrum. This more modest piece has a strong display character and is an excellent value.
