Grossular - 'raspberry' Garnet
stock #10.1-272
Sierra de la Cruz, Municipio de Sierra Mojada
Coahuila,
Mexico
8.7 x 5.3 x 4.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $480
Spring 23
A large and colorful raspberry Garnet from the specimen mining project of Dennis Beals about 12 years ago. This has a dense cluster of Grossular crystals up to 1.4 CM, ranging in color from bright raspberry to a darker red-purple hue. Excellent luster on most crystals. There is some crystals on the outer edges that are broken and show that the core is quite dark to black inside with the outer skin being the red-purple color. This piece has the Garnets very well-exposed and it is a choice example of the find. The area here in Coahuila was a source of pink and greenish garnets as well as brown Vesuvianites known since the 1950 era. For decades the location was incorrectly given as Lago Jaco, which was deliberate misleading to keep the source private. The early finds were usually rather pale but these later Garnets are far more vibrant.
A small slab section of Rhodochrosite stalactite with good red color and complete all around. This shows the radiating crystal structure or flower-like form and not the usual "bullseye". Looks fine on both sides, this is from the famed Capillitas (Argentina) which is the only place in the world where such things are found.
Cavansite with Stilbite
stock #8.AE-735
Dhoot Quarry, Wagholi, Pune
Maharashtra,
India
5.3 x 5.2 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $390
Spring 23
A choice Cavansite with top color and no damage at all from the classic Wagholi locale in Pune (India). For many years we would see a lot of Cavansites at major mineral shows, these were popular due to the often intense color, and quite affordable. Undamaged pieces were much less common and now we understand the quarries are being redeveloped into housing. It seems the end of a great locality, there are no other sources of such quality worldwide. There are still a few fine pieces to be found in the mineral market, though the prices are already going up. This piece is from finds in 2003 and is well above average for quality in this size. The thumb of Cavansite is 3.2 CM tall, perfect and vivid. A choice, colorful and increasingly rare mineral.
Phosgenite - classic Sardinian
stock #23.1-352
Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Carbonia
Sardinia,
Italy
2.3 x 2.1 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $490
Spring 23
A single crystal of Phosgenite from the classic Monteponi Mine, ex Delaware University museum and attributed to the George Kunz collection (No Kunz label but a faded number on the specimen). Most of the Phosgenites from this locale have some type of damage, this one has some edge wear but is mostly complete on all sides, there is a chip on the backside and an old repair to note but still shows the form very well. This has classic flat basal terminations and stepped outer edges on the prism faces. Gemmy areas as well as vivid fluorescence add interest and character. For many years the Monteponi Mines were the world's best source of crystalized Lead secondary minerals like this; they are still prized and respected today.
Titanite - Northeast USA classic
stock #23.1-343
Acushnet Quarry (Warren Bros.) Acushnet, Bristol County
Massachusetts,
United States
4.4 x 1.9 x .8 CM (miniature)
price: $320
Spring 23
A large, (huge for the locality), doubly terminated and complete Titanite crystal from the Acushnet Quarry. Famed for finds of Apatites some years ago, this quarry has unusual geology and had been the source of alpine cleft type specimens especially Pericline, Adularia and Apatite. A few Titanites were also found, usually small and encrusted with Chlorite. This sizable crystal is the largest I have ever seen, somewhat crude but undamaged, complete on all edges and has translucent rich green color. Very choice New England specimen.
Richterite with Magnetite
stock #23.1-350-(D5558)
Langban (Langbanshyttan)
Varmland,
Sweden
6.3 x 5.4 x 5 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Spring 23
A choice and uncommon well-crystalized Richterite from Langban, ex University of Delaware Mineral Museum. Langban is one of the world's greatest mineral localities but not often represented in display collections. This locale is famed for very rare but often unattractive specimens or very tiny crystals. There are a few exceptions like this piece of large and lustrous orange-brown Richterite crystals intermixed with Magnetite crystals. A small amount of fluorescent Calcite is also present but the main event is the Richterites that are over 1.6 CM in size.
Selenite - bladed crystals (fluorescent)
stock #17.1-050
Salinas de Otuma, Otuma Village, Paracas, Pisco, Pisco Province
Ica,
Peru
6.1 x 6.1 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $150
Spring 23
Gemmy orange blades of Selenite from the find almost 20 years ago at Salinas de Otuma. The condition is excellent and the form is an unusual, flower-like cluster. The edges of each crystal is incredibly thin and almost colorless while the center of the crystal blades is a rich orange. These have become uncommon on the market but they remain attractive and still affordable.
Good matrix examples of Imperial Topaz are incredibly rare. Most of these crystals are recovered loose, the rare matrix pieces are typically badly broken fragments. This is quite unusual with three distinct gemmy crystals, the largest at 3.6 CM long in a hard ironstone (Hematite-rich sandstone) block. These crystals are also vividly fluorescent with a red to red-orange color, most Imperial topaz does not fluoresce but we have seen some that glow a yellow to yellow-green. On this specimen only one crystal shows a full termination and there is damage as seen, so this is not a display specimen for perfectionists but it is still impressive and very uncommon.
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