Bournonite - fine cogswheel habit crystals
stock #21.1-538
Machocamarco Mine, Cornelio Saavreda Province
Potosi,
Bolivia
4.7 x 3.4 x 2.2 CM (miniature)
price: $690
Pre Tucson
Perfect, sharp and very lustrous metallic crystals in a cluster from the important find in 2019 at the Machacamarca Mine. The form and habit really look like fine classic Cornish crystals but these are recent and a small fraction of the cost for a vintage English specimen. The crystals are up to 1.8 CM, undamaged and have textbook perfect morphology. Steel-grey color and an elegant arrangement make this miniature far especially choice. These are certain to be considered classics themselves in the future. Right now this quality and price for undamaged Bournonites is something special.
A small cluster of bright pink Tourmalines with good translucency and gem transparent sections. This has sharp edges, well-formed striations and flat terminations in excellent condition. Any such specimens from this locality are very rare and any good ones like this are simply never seen on the market. This is mounted on a 19th century style turned wooden base. Certainly the best specimen I have seen from this locality but honestly I have seen very few others, and none ever outside of museum collections.
Wulfenite - classic USA locality with unusual form
stock #19.1-989
Mammoth -St Anthony Mine, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal County
Arizona,
United States
3.3 x 2.2 x 1.7 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $190
Pre Tucson
From the famed Tiger, Arizona locality (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine) This is a quite delicate and well-crystalized small miniature. Wulfenite from Tiger is not rare, it was even at one time used as an ore with hundreds of tons being crushed for Molybdenum. Tiger Wulfenites are known in many habits and often as sizable crystal masses of inter-grown blades. Small, perfect, transparent yellow-orange crystals like these are much less common, showing beveled edges and windowpane form. A nice addition to a Wulfenite suite, Arizona collection, or just for esthetic appreciation.
Sphalerite on Quartz
stock #6.2-149
Shuikoushan Lead Zinc Mine, Changning, Hengyang Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
9.3 x 6.7 x 5.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $260
Pre Tucson
Ruby-red Sphalerite crystals scattered on a druzy Quartz from the 2005 era finds at Shuikoushan (China). The specimen also has several smaller orange Sphalerites that add a nice contrast. The matrix is a complex three-dimensional Quartz with hills, valleys and crevices that host these gemmy Sphalerites. In excellent condition overall, the Sphalerite crystals are mostly twinned and very translucent, these are singles and in clusters to almost 2 CM though the average is about 1 CM. The matrix was sawn on the bottom/ back to allow this to be collected without damage, the sawn areas are not visible in any display angle. Better in person and incredible with backlighting, these photos are not made with any.
Vivianite - Ukraine classic
stock #0656-JM-1553
Kerch Penninsula, Crimea Penninsula
Crimea Oblast,
Ukraine
7.3 x 6.2 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
A very well-crystalized Vivianite from the John Marshall collection, obtained in 1989. This was at one time a great locality for good Vivianites, this one is above average by far with no damage and free standing crystals to 3 CM. The crystals are well-terminated and lustrous, they grew protected in the vug of this Limonite matrix. These vugs were actually the voids inside fossil shells in this iron rich bedrock. The size of the crystals were limited by the size of the fossil voids; this one is especially large and choice. The color is quite dark, nearly black, except with strong light the dark green color is seen. Some of the Kerch Vivianites were unstable and matrix could crumble in a few years. This is absolutely solid and has no issues. Recent finds of Vivianites in both Europe and Brazil have been very impressive yet these older Ukrainian specimens have a somewhat different habit and look. These are of course completely unavailable now and may not be available for a long time - if ever.
A mix of bright green Variscite and powder blue Wavellite from the Ronneburg Uranium mines. The Wavellite is mostly blue but some is colorless and a few areas are actually clear, transparent balls. The Variscite is translucent on close exam and has several different green hues. This locality is not well-known to many collectors outside Europe but it is an incredible zone for fascinating and complex mineralogy, rare species and interesting associations. This specimen is quite good sized, colorful and is well covered on both sides with these Phosphate minerals. Under magnification the spheres, are unusually lustrous. Ex Vrzal collection.
Chalcocite - classic habit crystals from new find
stock #23.1-657
M Passa Mine, Mindouli District
Pool Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
7.3 x 6.4 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
This specimen is almost all Chalcocite, well-crystalized and with just a little green Copper oxidation giving a nice contrast. The Chalcocite look just like the old classics of Cornwall or Bristol but are from a new find made about 2 years ago in the Congo. All the crystals are in parallel alignment and the condition is excellent as seen. A very choice example from this remarkable discovery.
Pseudomalachite (classic Ehlite)
stock #23.1-712
Lubietova, Slovenske Rudohorie Mts,
Banska Bystrica Region,
Slovakia
7.7 x 5.7 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
Pre Tucson
Rich and fine vintage specimen (with antique labels) of Pseudomalachite from the era when it was called Ehlite. This and several others were thought to be all different species, but all are classified to be Pseudomalachite now. This piece is from the original mine at Lubetova (Slovakia) the Quartz matrix is almost complete covered on all sides with botryoidal green masses. Pseudomalachite is Phosphate Copper Carbonate, and quite uncommon in comparison to simple Copper Carbonate (Malachite). Specimens from this locality were the first described as a discrete specie in 1812, though an earlier analysis without description of specimens from Germany cause that location to be listed as the type locale. Rich color and coverage, the luster looks polished in a few spots but is fully natural.
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