Diopside with Grossular
stock #18.1-389
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
2.6 x 2.2 x 1.8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $70
Late Summer 2018
Mostly a Diopside thumbnail but with some bright orange Grossular tucked between the crystals. A waxy yellow-green color that is not very common at the Jeffrey mine. The central area of the piece is undamaged and well formed, only the outer edge has some chipping. A very affordable but well crystalized piece.
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.
Pectolite
stock #18.1-390
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
2.4 x 1 x .7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $220
Late Summer 2018
Probably the worlds best and largest Pectolite crystals came from the Jeffrey mine years ago. These were often slender, flat blades or needles often in spectacular sprays and groups. Sharp euhedral prisms like these were much more rare. This one is just large, doubly terminated crystals that have crisp sharp edges, glassy faces, is translucent to transparent. Perfect, undamaged glassy prisms in a nice arrangement, no place else on the planet has ever formed Pectolites like this. These have the characteristic one sided chisel termination and a hint of green. A choice thumbnail of a mineral not often considered for fine crystals.
Apatite (CaF)
stock #18.1-391
Sapo Mine, Goiabeira
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.2 x 3.5 x 2.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $390
Late Summer 2018
Stacked hexagonal prisms with super glassy faces and a deep green color. A Sapo mine specimen that in some ways looks like a Panasquira Apatite. Sapo produced many styles of Apatite over the years, this is a choice example of the non-tabular oriented type of prisms vintage 2004. Sadly the mine is not working anymore. In excellent undamaged condition, a pretty and esthetic arrangement.
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.
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.
Ilvaite on Quartz
stock #AX-15-286
Huanggang Mine, Chifeng Prefecture, Hexigten Banner, Ulanhead League
Inner Mongolia Region,
China
7 x 4.9 x 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $360
Late Summer 2018
The Inner Mongolian region finds in the past few years re-defined how we look at Ilvaite, these were huge news in the mineral world. This specimen is sharp and quite lustrous, the Ilvaite is undamaged and sits on greenish quartz needles (likely included by Hedenbergite). Very esthetic (for a black mineral, this is exceptional) the form is textbook and the contrast with the matrix is choice. These better pieces are world class for the specie and still very affordable, a good time to add a good example before these inevitably disappear. .
Calcite (Pineapple) on Fluorite
stock #6.2-306
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Leiyang
Hunan Province,
China
3.7 x 3.2 x 2.0 CM (miniature)
price: $290
Late Summer 2018
Almost 20 years ago the Shangbao mine in China encountered some pockets of "pineapple" look Calcites. The best of these were on contrasting Fluorite and had (to my eye anyway) great esthetic appeal. This is a small but perfect example of that find. The color, luster and habit are distinctive for these Calcites and unlike any others from anyplace. The Calcites are transparent and undamaged (a small contact is on the backside, but no damage). A fine small modern classic piece.
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