HOLD Beryl var. Emerald - exceptional classic Austrian
stock #HOLD 23.FC-030
Leckbachgraben, Nasenkopf mountain, Habach valley, Bramberg am Wildkogel
Salzburg,
Austria
7.3 x 4.7 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $3500
Pre Tucson
A superb Emerald specimen with large areas of gem grade transparency, rich color and the largest Beryl is huge (3.4 CM) very fine and doubly terminated. The matrix is the classic dark Mica ("Biotite") Schist and holds many smaller crystals. The focal point however is the main crystal that dominates the specimen and is far better than the quality seen from this ancient and fabled location. A top Austrian Emerald from this legendary locality that for years was simply called Habachtal. The history of this mine dates back over 300 years (pre 1797)and was the source of many Emeralds for the European trade. Despite the long history it is rare to find a surviving specimen of this quality in any collection. An excellent addition to any classic locality suite, gem crystal or Beryl collection.
Siderite on Arsenopyrite with Quartz
stock #AX-15-254-(C180)
Nandan, Hechi Prefecture
Guangxi Province,
China
8.3 x 6.1 x 4.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $170
Pre Tucson
An unusual and very attractive Siderite from the last finds at the closed mines of Nandan (China). Ex Shields Flynn collection, the Siderites are especially bright and sprinkled on most faces with tiny sparkling Quartz crystals. The Arsenopyrite is also sharp, undamaged and has mirror bright metallic luster. These Siderites are noticeably different from this locality to the more recent find in Inner Mongolia and elsewhere. These crystals average 1-1.5 CM and have a honey yellow to orange hue.
Scholzite - rare and well crystalized
stock #AX-10-712
Reaphook Hill, Flinders Ranges
South Australia,
Australia
7.8 x 6.3 x 5.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
A large, super dense and rich forest of sharp needle crystals covering matrix. Scholzite is a fairly rare Phosphate that is only seen in sizable specimens from Reaphook Hill (Australia). From the world's best find of this specie in the 1960 to early 70 era this is a modern classic and a super fine specimen. From all other localities Scholzite is usually only seen as micro specimens. Overall in excellent condition which is amazing considering the delicacy of this piece, bruises only at periphery. Crystals exceed 1 CM which is quite sizable. This fine quality is only available from old collection dispersal. Ex collection Ara T. Dildilian with label.
Amethyst on Calcite
stock #12.1-113
Karur
Tamil Nadu,
India
7.4 x 5.8 x 2.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $260
A small cabinet sized plate of small greenish Calcite crystals is the matrix for a complex array of doubly terminated Amethyst. The Quartz is in perfect condition, very lustrous and fully transparent, it makes a great contrast with the vivid purple on green. This has a flowerlike look in person, Some of the crystals are sceptered and reverse sceptered. Good magnification also show some slender red inclusions that may be hematite or another mineral. Pretty and unusual a very nice example from this moist inusual locality at Karur in Southern India.
Barite on Calcite with Pyrite
stock #6.2-909
Dachang Ore Field, Nandan
Guangxi Province,
China
4.8 x 4.3 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
A quite usual and attractive gemmy Barite/Calcite combo from the Nandan area (Guangxi, China). We were at this less well-known mining area in 2004 and a few miners had just found these gem clear Barites, some with "Mercedes" style Calcites. We selected the best 20 pieces or so and quickly sold everything We never could get anymore like this and the mine has been closed for a few years. This piece came back to us recently and is ready for a new home. Like most in the find the Barite is not absolutely perfect, there are micro chips most of which are on the backside. It still looks great from most angles but is not for perfectionists. The Calcites make a great contrast and add a lot of interest. They are white flat discoidal type with dark Pyrite lines that create the Mercedes shape. The color and luster of the Barite are excellent and there are phantoms of dark inclusions that are almost certainly Pyrite. The small bits of damage are certainly unfortunate, (we never did find any without at least a little) but they are not a major distraction and keep the price a lot lower than if this was absolutely perfect. An excellent older vintage Chinese piece. The Nandan area had many small mines that were a very interesting source of polymetallic ores and some great specimen minerals. We miss it!
Andradite - Demantoid
stock #22.1-696
Black Lake, Thetford Mines, Les Appalaches, RCM
Quebec,
Canada
5.5 x 5.3 x 23.1 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $550
Pre Tucson
A fine mint green Garnet crystal with the unusual and quite rare flattened habit sits atop the matrix of druzy Andradites. The main crystal is just over 1.1 CM across and is complete, undamaged and in tabular form. From the finds at Black Lake (Quebec, Canada) about 20 years ago, this is far above the average quality known from this important locality. Black Lake Quarry was not very far from the larger and more famed Jeffrey Mine, but had a somewhat different mineralization. More Andradite than Grossular Garnets are known from here and the predominant color was green Demantoid. Good specimens of this quality are quite rare on the market, much less common than Jeffrey Garnet. In excellent condition.
Rhodochrosite with Elpidite etc.
stock #23.1-151
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
3.7 x 2.6 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $690
A superb small miniature or "toenail" with a sharp triagonal Rhodochrosite perched on top. In excellent condition the Rhodo is the classic form from Mont St. Hilaire, and has the triagonal center hopper in the center of the largest crystal. Lots of additional micro crystals and species are on the specimen but the Rhodochrosite is really the dominant focal point, it is 2.2 CM across and has very good color. What looks like chipping or damage on a top edge is actually well crystalized with tiny step faces. The Rhodochrosites of Mt St Hilaire took several forms but the triagonal crystals are still the most distinctive and are incredibly rare at all other localities. This specimen was found more than 30 years ago, they were never common and there is nothing now. Classic and esthetic!
SOLD Fluorite - spinel twins
stock #SOLD 23.1-224
Hohenstein Massif, Omaruru District
Erongo Region,
Namibia
2.8 x 1.4 x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $0
Pre Tucson
Killer thumbnail of multi color Fluorite in a flat and elongated spinel twin form. From the 2021 pocket on Hohenstein (Erongo, Namibia) which had a very special and unique look to many crystals, this is a perfect, complete and choice small wonder. The internal color play is very impressive in person, purple, green lighter violet and yellow to orange colors are zoned. The yellow-orange is a concentrated in a faden-like line that runs the length of the crystal. It is almost impossible to describe the crystal complexity, some faces are glass clear, these alternate with some frosted or etched faces. Looks fine from almost any angle and with backlight glows very well. We were able to select our specimens very early from the pocket contents and all were chosen with care for best quality, esthetics and interest. A few tiny crystals are scattered on one edge and are also spinel twins. This find is among the most important of the past few decades of Erongo Fluorite, the habit and quality are unlike anything else.
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