Titanite (Sphene) - gemmy crystals
stock #AC-366
Campo do Boa mine, Capalinha
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.9 x 3.8 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $340
Late Summer 2018
A brazillian specimen that was mined over 25 years ago. Very sharp, glassy twinned Sphenes on matrix up to 2.5 CM on matrix. The matrix is also covered on both sides with a druse of micro Titanite crystals that sparkle nicely. Some of the tiny Titanites seem to be untwinned which is rather rare but is known in a few specimens from this locale. The main crystals are well exposed from the matrix and show well from several angles. Some damage and contacts can be found on close exam but these do no stand out. The price reflects this, a good value for a very displayable specimen.
Quartz with Pyrite
stock #16.1-387-(CN1997)
Dalnegorsk, Kavalerovo Mining District
Primorsky Kray,
Russia
9.3 x 6.8 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
Late Summer 2018
A very esthetic specimen ex Charles Noll collection. This is a bit of a mystery, The labels attribute this to Dalngorsk and the dusting of Pyrite looks just like some tiny pyrite found there on white Calcite, but this is on Milky Quartz in doubly terminated prisms. I can not find any other examples with this look, so we have tried to confirm the locality. I have been told this was probably from one of the very first waves of specimens to come from Russia which had many oddities not seen again. This fits with the collection vintage, and would make this a very special addition to any fine Dalngorsk suite. The quartz are doubly terminated, perfect all around and are epitaxially coated with tiny Pyrite crystals. An attractive arrangement and striking specimen unlike anything we have seen from any locale worldwide.
Prehnite crystals covered by Grossular
stock #AX-10-842
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
4 x 3.2 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $320
Late Summer 2018
A cluster of Prehnite crystals are almost completely covered with tiny colorless and white Grossular crystals. There are a few small areas of uncovered Prehnite where it can be seen that these are glassy and transparent. Colorless or white Garnet is very rare and the tiny Grossular here are nearly all transparent, mostly colorless with a few white translucent crystals. It is impossible to find this combination available unless from an oldcollections being dispursed.
Rhodochrosite -rhombic and etched forms
stock #AX-22-103
Wutong Mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co. Wuzoh Pref.
Guangxi Province,
China
3 x 2.3 x 2.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $420
Late Summer 2018
Deep red color, translucent to transparent and with fine form, a choice toenail sized Rhodo. From the Wuton (Wudong) mine that is no longer producing, but at one time this discovery made nice Rhodos much more affordable for many collectors. This piece has a pair of modified rhombs joined in a V shape. One is sharp and glassy with some stepped etching, the other is more heavily modified, etched and recrystallized. This is the style that was often compared to Rhodos from Sweet Home. There is a lot of similarity but the price is very much lower from this locale!
Spessartine on Muscovite
stock #AX-14-337
Gilgit, Gilgit district
Gilgit-Baltistan,
Pakistan
4.7 x 4 x 3.9 CM (miniature)
price: $880
Late Summer 2018
Superb glassy garnets arranged in parallel or epitaxial stack making a wonderful natural sculpture. Perched on Muscovite crystals the Spessartine is very lustrous and in fine condition. Displays well from several angles, this was collected almost 25 years ago. Eye-catching and esthetic.
Vesuvianite
stock #AX-23-143
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
8.8 x 7.2 x 6.1 (cabinet)
price: $720
Late Summer 2018
Large block of nearly pure Vesuvianite with every side showing bright crystals to 1.6 CM though most are much smaller. Some contacts and very small chipping can be found so the pricing reflects this, yet the overall display impact is strong. An excellent value for a showy Jeffrey Vesuvianite. A few additional vugs hold the rare Emerald green (so called Chromian) Vesuvianite and a few bits of purple color pop out too. Overall this is the classic mint green color, sparkling with glassy luster on crystals that are transparent to translucent.
Hemimorphite
stock #AX-19-217
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
10.1 x 7.7 x 6.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $390
Late Summer 2018
Two generations of well-formed Hemimophite crystals on a gossan matrix. The smaller crystals are colorless, glass clear and very lustrous. The larger are a milky white with a hint of reddish included Hematite. Free standing, these larger crystals reach 2.5 CM. A very three-dimensional matrix and with several excellent angles for display, this is an older Mina Ojuela specimen that is not like material from later finds. The early finds are highly respected as perhaps the best prismatic crystals of the specie ever found. A modern Mexican classic that is still affordable.
Fluorite (globular crystals) with Schorl
stock #17.1-304
Hohenstein Massif, Omaruru District
Erongo Region,
Namibia
8.1 x 4.9 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
Late Summer 2018
Very odd but also quite attractive, a mass of rounded translucent Fluorite crystals stacked on each other. A few Schorl crystals and a little Hyalite opal add some contrast but this is nearly all Fluorite. The color is the "jellybean green" and a vitreous luster. In fine condition and in person more impressive. From a 2017 find on Hohenstein massif, the major specimen source now in the Erongo. It has been incredible how many different types and forms of Fluorite have been found here, often unique to a single pocket.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)