Hemimorphite -exceptional bright blue botryoidal
stock #24.1-145
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4.1 x 2.8 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $350
Intense deep blue and with a wet-look luster, this is a very fine Hemimorphite from a recent find at the Mfouati Mine. This locality in the Republic of Congo has in the past 2 years offered a few fine surprises to the mineral world. We understand that nothing new is possible now as the ownership and management have changed there. That said this is a fine Hemimorphite from anyplace and as fine as any we have seen in this size.
A pair of terminated transparent Tourmalines from vintage 1980 finds at Coronel Murta (Minas Gerais, Brazil). This Elbaite is also quite dichroic and best appreciated when rotated in front of a polarized light like a computer screen. The color ranges from almost colorless blue hue to a very dark green. In very good condition overall, this is nearly all facet grade clear and has fine well-developed striations. 17.5 grams and quite different from more recent Brazilian Tourmalines. This will fit at an angle in a perky box but not a 1 inch cube.
A fine, sharp and partly gemmy crystal of Scheelite perched and well-exposed on matrix. Bright luster and fine undamaged condition. The crystal is 3 CM across and the color ranges from orange to a straw yellow. From early finds on Mt Xuebaoding, a fine display quality specimen that is of a quality and style not seen in more recent finds.
Leucite is a mineral oddity in that it is classified as both a Feldspathoid and is listed in the Zeolite family as well. It has a crystal form very similar to
Analcime. This cluster is in the typical habit and from a well-known Italian locality. Complete all around no damage.
A large and rich specimen of Nagyagite with one face sawn and polished to show the structure. From the type locality this is a heavy mass of Gold Telluride in a mixed specie piece. Sizable masses of metallic Nagyagite are well-exposed on all sides, this specimen comes from the collection of the mineral museum at Pribram in the Czech Republic. This rare specie was named for the locality (Nagyag is the Hungarian name for this location in Romania). Although this is mostly a massive specimen there are some small crude crystals in vugs and crevices best seen with magnification. At 218 grams, there is certainly a lot of Gold in this piece it is remarkable that such rich ore was not smelted.
Lazurite crystal on Marble
stock #24.1-191
Sar-e Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District
Badakshan,
Afghanistan
3.3 x 2.7 x 2.6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $110
A well-exposed and sharp crystal of Lazurite on contrasting white Marble matrix. It is hard to find such a good thumbnail of Lazurite, the crystals tend to be much too large. In fine condition, a choice classic specimen.
Hubnerite with Fluorite and Quartz
stock #22.1-607-(YL)
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
5.6 x 5.3 x 2.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $440
Very lustrous sharp Hubnerite crystals with good red highlights set on Quartz with purple Fluorites. A choice multi-specie specimen from the great Yaogangxian Mine. Hubnerite is much more rare from here than the similar Ferberite, and this is a well above average example of the specie. In excellent condition as seen, the crystals are nicely offset by the purple Fluorites, milky Quartz and with a dusting of Pyrite. Displays well, an excellent addition to a Yaogangxian suite or for a Chinese collection.
Scheelite crystals in a Quartz-lined vug with individuals to 1.3 cm across. A choice specimens from the less well-known Czech locality of Obri Dul. Collected in 1960 from this small Skarn area that is noted more for Fluorites and Wollastonite. These are quite sharp and sizable for the location and well-preserved. Good luster, nice light yellow-orange color and strong fluorescence.
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