Quartz on Rhodochrosite on Calcite
stock #AX-10-482
Los Remidios Mine, Level 4, Taxco
Guerrero,
Mexico
10.8 x 7.1 x 6.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $375
Spring update
A bright, sparkling old Mexican Rhodo with Scalenohedra that are covered by clear tiny quartz crystals that add a bright luster. The rich pink color of the Rhodocrosite is clearly seen through the druzy Quartz. Some typical sulfides make up the rest of the matrix, the dark colors adding contrast. In very good condition, a few old breaks are noted and seem at least partly rehealed, however as seen this is still a very fine display piece.
Fluorite on Quartz (older Chinese)
stock #6.2-731
Xianghualing Mine, Linwu County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
6.9 x 5.7 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $950
Spring update
Beautiful light green transparent Fluorite crystals in modified Cube-Octahedral forms perched on a matrix of Massive Fluorite and Quartz crystals. Exceptional in person, a very choice and quite unusual habit, no longer seen for sale. The Quartz has an Iron tinge and so adds a nice color contrast. Displays well from several angles. The Xianghauling mines produced just a few of this habit in 2004-5. We obtained several at the mine and sold them all long ago, including this one that has come back in a collection purchase. The mine is non producing for many years now.
Topaz on Clevelandite and Muscovite
stock #15.1-908
Shigar, Skardu District, Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan,
Pakistan
7.2 x 4.9 x 4.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
Spring update
Sharp and perfect Topaz (4.4 CM across) with an unusual but very esthetic morphology. Glassy luster and esthetically exposed, this is a very choice piece that is far better in person. The Topaz presents with an elongated termination facing outwards and the form and presentation is not a typical one. Damage free and for a non-colorful specimen this is really different and eye-catching in a display.
Grossular on Prehnite
stock #18.1-129
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos
Québec,
Canada
1.7 x 1.5 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $4500
Spring update
An unbelievable killer "bonsai tree"! This small thumb from the great Jeffrey mine is unique. Perfect display and undamaged all around. The Garnets are the deep emerald green color that are called "Chrome Grossular" and are gem clear. The Trunk of the tree is a single complete Prehnite crystal of the elongated prismatic habit. We have handled quite a few bright green Grossular but have never even seen such an esthetic combination. Simply extraordinary for the locality and for the specie. Top notch competition level, really a once in a lifetime thumbnail.
Wonderful esthetics! Slender wires in branches holding spinel twinned Copper crystals in Herringbone arrays. A very old specimen from the famed Phoenix mine, in perfect condition. A superb, textbook example of these habits that is much more delicate than most Phoenix specimens. Under magnification it seems a small dab of Silver is present as well as a small modified cube. It is remarkable that this piece has remained intact.
Fluorite- Modified cubes included by Foitite
stock #18.1-110
Hohenstein Massif, Omaruru District
Erongo Region,
Namibia
3.2 x 2.8 x 2.1 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $150
Spring update
A cluster of "melted look" transparent Fluorites are aligned in an epitaxial arrangement. A close look shows these are filled with fibrous Foitite crystals that are in sprays and curved bundles. A few Foitite are seen on the exterior as well with the characteristic fibrous terminations. In fine condition and especially impressive with magnification.
A sculptural thumbnail with sharp, glass-clear crystals and deep color. It is possible to fine details in the matrix right through the Garnets. Crystals completely encrust a "thumb" of matrix on all sides. The luster is top notch, and there is no damage. With strong magnification the matrix shows several different micro crystals not identified. Fine striations on every crystal show different structures.
Beryl (elongated crystals) on Muscovite
stock #8.1-130
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
7.8 x 5.4 x 2.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Spring update
An unusual matrix plate well encrusted with Beryl (both Aquamarine and Goshenite) with fine clarity. The unusual part is the habit here, these are not the typical tabular crystals from Xuebaoding, but elongated prisms with truncated pyramids. Xuebaoding is a world famed locale and had produced many fine Beryls but almost always in a rare tabular habit. In 2006 a small zone with some elongated crystals produced these odd habit Beryl. This is a very good example from that find, there have been no more since.
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