Uvarovite - emerald-green Garnets
stock #20.1-905-(ZS-UVR4123)
Saranovskii Mine, Saranovskaya, Permskaya Oblast, Middle Urals
Perm Krai,
Russia
7.3 x 6.8 x 1.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $160
new year 2021
A flat plate of matrix with the display face richly covered with vivid green Uvarovites. The larger crystals tend to be a more dark green and are especially lustrous. These Russian crystals are almost always rather small though this piece has some individuals to 2+ mm which is larger than usual. Uvarovite is one of the less common members of the Garnet family, there are just three locations that have ever produced good or sizable crystals though the specie is known from other locations. This has been sawn on the back (not visible from the front) to help remove this without damage. The intensity of color and bright sparkle of these Russian specimens makes them stand out as a good value that is noticed even among other colorful minerals.
Cubanite with Calcite
stock #AX-3-009
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Quebec,
Canada
1.8 x 1.5 x 1.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $700
new year 2021
A fully twinned Cubanite crystal from the great find at Chibougamau almost 25 years ago. This Cubanite has a small spray of flat Calcite crystals on one corner giving a nice accent. There is no matrix. A circle of an iridescent alteration in the very center of the radiating arms is quite unusual. This patina is the classic brassy golden metallic. The front side is complete all around with the radiating point off center but crystallized on the fat edge. The back is contacted though not broken and about 50% complete. One small chip is noted on the display face that is visible by naked eye but can be hidden by creative mounting. Cubanite is very delicate and some damage is normal, this is not perfect but has far less than most. The find at this mine (Henderson #2) was by far the greatest ever with the best Cubanite crystals ever seen. These are only available from old collections and the most desirable are the flat twinned crystals that show the radiating or star striations.
SOLD Vesuvianite - emerald green
stock #SOLD AX-16-449
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.5 x 2.7 x 1.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $0
new year 2021
Two generations of deep green Vesuvianites. The larger crystals are a mid to dark green with darker cores. The smaller crystals are a deep emerald green with pointed terminations. All of these crystals have brilliant glassy luster and are transparent to translucent. Vesuvianite of this intense color is only known from one locality, the Jeffrey Mine of Quebec. The emerald green is one of the rarest colors from this legendary locality. This has sometimes been called Chrome Vesuvianite though there is no clear proof that Chrome causes this color. The largest crystals have some old breaks or contacts that have rehealed and recrystallized at the terminations so from some angles they look broken. Some smaller crystals have damage seen with a loupe but the specimen still looks very good by naked eye. Usually Vesuvianites of this color is very expensive, this piece is priced well bellow the market in consideration of the imperfections but it still displays well.
Elbaite (Rubellite) with Lepidolite
stock #AX-7-233-(646)
Himalaya Mine, Gem Hill,Mesa Grande District, San Diego County
California,
United States
2.1 x 1.5 x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $650
new year 2021
A fine, super colorful thumbnail Tourmaline from the Larry White collection. Great condition, gemmy transparency and vivid pink to red color that contrast with the purple Lepidolite. This is currently mounted on one of Larry's handmade wooden bases but it can easily be removed if desired. A slight bend near the termination and some color zoning add extra interest. In addition the crystal shows a very good dichroic color shift in polarized light. Choice small thumbnail. A classic USA gem crystal, esthetic, and even nicer in person.
Proustite
stock #20.1-910-(ZS-pst4097)
Imiter Mine, Imiter Mining Dist., Tinghir Province
Draa-Tafilalet Region,
Morocco
10.2 x 7.1 x 4.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
new year 2021
A large specimen richly covered on both sides with hundreds of brilliant Proustite crystals. This shows perfectly why this specie is called Ruby Silver, the crystals are all transparent, gemmy and sparkling red. The vivid color and bright luster of the transparent prisms stands out against the dark matrix. Ex David Lloyd collection, in outstanding fine condition with a few small blebs of Silver seen with magnification. From the early finds of Proustite at Imiter that were a great sensation in the mineral world. Prior to this find Proustite was only available from a few old classic Silver localities in Chile and Europe, they were (and are) treasured and expensive rarities. The Moroccan find had allowed collectors with less deep pockets to have fine specimens of this "noble" mineral.
A superb and complex specimen of Wulfenite from the important find of 2018 in Yazd Province, Iran. The Wulfenite crystals are quite large for this find, up to 2.8 CM across. These are now partly coated by White Calcite and dusted with tiny black crystals of Plattnerite and a few small Mimetites. The Wulfenites from this ancient Lead mine are unique in the world, the forms and associations are different from any others. This is in remarkably fine condition as very few were so intact. The form is quite sculptural and the complexity adds a lot of visual interest. An excellent addition to any suite of Wulfenites or Lead minerals.
Wulfenite with Calcite
stock #AX-31-066
Ahmad Abad Mine
Yazd Province,
Iran
6.2 x 5.1 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $1100
new year 2021
Very thin, delicate crystals of yellow Wulfenite with some orange centers. Small balls of white Calcite are scattered on these blades and in some cases there are tiny lines of crystals on the edges of the Wulfenites. In fine condition, despite the obvious fragility all of the main crystals and most of the small ones are perfect and undamaged. This is from the unusual discovery at a small, ancient lead mine in Yazd Province, Iran. The crystals have several habits and are both pointed and with flat edges. The color in person is quite vivid. This was an important find and the Wulfenites were huge mineral news when these emerged, these are unlike any others ever discovered. This piece is far above the average quality and choice for the locale.
Prehnite - crystallized ball/rosette cluster
stock #19.1-650
Merelani Hills, Lelatama Mountains, Simanjiro District
Manyara Region,
Tanzania
6.7 x 5.6 x 5.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
new year 2021
A large, complete Prehnite ball that is well-crystallized on all sides. The radiating crystals are quite lustrous, mostly a dark blue- green and with a few scattered clear Calcites adding extra contrast. The largest individual Prehnites are almost 2 CM, though most are about 1 CM. The condition is exceptional, undamaged and the overall esthetics are impressive from many angles. This piece is from the major find in 2018 and well above average for quality.