Aurichalcite
stock #AX-10-868
Mina Ojuela, Mapimi
Durango,
Mexico
7.3 x 6.8 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
A rich and large vug of Aurichalcite crystals in hairlike masses and clusters. Excellent color and in very fine condition. A classic from Mina Ojuela, this is a fairly old (1970-80 era) specimen and far better than the usual seen from this locality .It has a very large blue zone, long hairs (to well over 1 CM) in thick layers and has real display impact. Very few minerals in the world have this exact color, it stands out in any cabinet!
SOLDSpinel on Marble- classic Mogog red
stock #SOLD 24.1-181
Pein Pyit, Mogok, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
Mandalay Division,
Myanmar (Burma)
3.1 x 2.4 x 2.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $0
A single bright red crystal of Spinel sits on a small mass of pure white Marble. The form is a modified octahedron and is undamaged, complete and presents well. This is classic Mogok material, the crystal is vividly fluorescent and displays well from all sides. This is a small and affordable version of the top larger Spinels that are known from here which typically sell at incredibly high prices.
Topaz - clear gem crystal
stock #24.1-182
Sakangyi-Kyauk-Pyat-That, Mogok, Pyin-Oo-Lwin,
Mandalay Division,
Myanmar (Burma)
2.7 x 1.8 x 1.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $240
Sharp and water-clear transparent Topaz crystal with very bright luster. From the pegmatite of Sakangyi, it is perfectly formed and undamaged. Sadly the current state in Myanmar is very much in chaos and no mining of any sort is going on. This may take a very long time to resolve. The complex mineralogy of this region has produced many incredible finds and is of course world famed for the gem Corundum found there. Topaz like this can be fantastic, showing these very elegant and complex terminations, prism modifications and very sharp form.
Rhodochrosite - unusual locality
stock #24.1-180
Olpe, Arnsberg
North Rhine-Westphalia,
Germany
2.4 x 1.7x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $280
Small but well-formed scalenohedral crystals with good pink-red color form a druse on matrix. I have never seen another Rhodochrosite from this locality but it is listed as a specie found there by Mindat, though there are no photos of examples. The mines in this site are quite sizable and produce Barite as well as Lead and Zinc. Several Manganese minerals are noted as well. We can not find any published examples from this mine and only two examples from all of Arnsberg are on Mindat, so it is safe to say it is a fairly rare occurrence. A nice thumbnail and a good addition to a German collection or a Rhodochrosite suite.
Pecoraite can be seen as a greenish alteration of Millerite crystals along with some unaltered Millerite in vugs. A quite rare specie worldwide and also rare from the famed Sterling Mine locality, this specimen was in the collection of Skylar Alverson which he obtained in 1980. The matrix is the classic Iron ore most likely Hematite with tiny Quartz, Dolomite and Chalcopyrite crystals. The hairlike crystals are mostly brassy unaltered Millerite but some show the alteration and are no longer metallic. Millerite from Sterling Mine is quite sought after, the Pecoraite is much more rare and the two together are a nice combination. Please note, these are quite tiny crystals, well visible by naked eye but really not a display type specimen, it is best appreciated with magnification.
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