Tennantite and Siderite - classic European
stock #17.1-032
Barbora Adit, Knottei area, Krupka, Krusne Hory Mts
Usti nad Labem Region (Bohemia),
Czech Republic
5.4 x 3.3 x 2.2 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $150
new year 2021
A very old and very rich Czech Tennantite from this historic mining region. The matrix is a sparkling Quartz with several large (for the locality) Siderite rhombs up to 2.5 CM. The Tennantites are in clusters of many small, distinctive crystals, up to 4mm - though most are smaller. The Tennantite masses are relatively bright, lustrous and includes many twins. A small amount of Chalcopyrite is seen with magnification. This can be displayed from several angles that show more Dolomite or more Tennantite depending on preference.
Pyromorphite -very old classic locale
stock #0100-JM-141
Bleistadt (Olovi), Sokolov District
Karlovy Vary Region (Bohemia),
Czech Republic
5.6 x 3.9 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $300
Spring 2020
A choice historic Pyro and a very uncommon locality piece that is quite a lot nicer than just a "reference" specimen. From the ancient lead mining area in Czech Republic, Bleistadt (or Olovi) in Bohemia has been mined for centuries beginning in the early 14th century. This specimen was in the Moritz Lechner Collection (1850-1903) of Austria which was made up of several much earlier collections going back to the early 18th century. Much of this collection was later obtained by the Schortmann brothers (Massachusetts, USA) who sold this piece in 1969 to John Marshall. John was building a comprehensive Pyromorphite suite and seeking as many rare locality pieces as possible. The labels are included along with the Marshall collection card. The specimen itself has several blocky, dark brown, lustrous crystals to almost 1 CM on a vuggy Quartz matrix. In very good condition the matrix has been crudely sawn long ago on the back and sides. A few older labels and numbers are affixed on this specimen which predate the Lechner collection number. While we do not know the earliest collection history of this piece it is clearly very very old and a very nice bit of mineralogical history.
Cerussite and Dundasite
stock #19.1-407
Modra Stola, Ziate Hory, Olomouc Region
Moravia,
Czech Republic
6.9 x 6.4 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
A rich specimen of accicular Cerussite that is covered with tiny needles and micro balls of greenish to white Dundasite. The whole piece has a pleasing minty green hue due mostly to the Dundasite. Dundasite is a rather rare mineral and usually seen as an associate of Cerussite. This locality is an ancient abandoned mine dating to the fifteenth century which produced some good lead secondary minerals from the oxidized zone to modern (1980 vintage) collectors. Close exam of the Cerussite shows that the individual needles are sixling twins with a star-like cross section. Choice and very fine for the locale.
Lithiophorite
stock #19.1-373
Olesna, Horovice, Beroun District
Central Bohemia Region,
Czech Republic
7.1 x 6 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $40
A black ugly, nearly pure, globular Lithiophorite that is a very good example of the specie and the locality. From an old Czech collection, this Manganese Oxide mineral (with Aluminum and Lithium) is never a "pretty" mineral, but it is uncommon and this a rich specimen.
From one of the oldest Mine sites in Europe (close to 900 years plus) this is an exceptional vintage specimen. Well-formed Cerussites with elongated pseudohexagonal habit are perched across a crystalized Galena face. The Cerussites are a sooty butterscotch yellow-orange color and are mostly in clusters yet are distinct and well-separated. Largest reach 2.5 CM Old labels include one from Muralt (Vienna). In remarkable condition for this very delicate specie, there are only some minor bruises on the outer edges. The Galena has a complexly crystalized surface and the Cerussite is quite strongly Fluorescent.
Pyromorphite- ex. Bally, Marshall
stock #0933-JM-4233
Stribro (Mies), Tachov District, Pizen Region
Bohemia,
Czech Republic
6.8 x 5.5 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $285
A mass of rounded Galena is covered on all sides by sharp brown crystals of Pyromorphite. A choice example from Stribro (Mies) in Bohemia, this was in the Bally Museum (Switzerland) then sold by Alain Martaud to the John Marshall Pyro collection. A floater, the crystals are slender like needles growing on all surfaces. By naked eye this is in perfect condition but with magnification some broken crystals are seen. A much better than average old Mies specimen that is probably the Ca rich variety but has not been tested.
Pyromorphite
stock #16.1-425-(CN3253)
Stribro (Mies), Tachov District, Pizen Region
Bohemia,
Czech Republic
5.8 x 3.9 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
A somewhat "normal" type of Pyromorphite from Stribro Mies. The Calcium rich Pyromorphites from Stribro were at one time proposed as a unique mineral specie "Miesite", but is simply a variety. This vintage specimen has a chain of labels calling this Miesite but it does not have the usual look with brown balls. This is a more normal type Pyro with two generations of greenish to yellow-brown crystals on gossan matrix. A nice old piece ex University of Pennslyvania, Crawford and Noll collections. Crystals to 5mm but most are smaller, in reasonably good condition especially considering the age and delicate nature of the piece.
Scheelite on Quartz -classic European
stock #19.1-295
Cinovec, Krusne Hory Mts.
Usti nad Labem Region (Bohemia),
Czech Republic
5.7 x 2.9 x 2.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $750
A rarely available habit of Scheelite in balls and masses of tiny crystals on a doubly terminated Quartz. This is a very old specimen from the area also known as Zinnwald (on German side of the border) in the Erzgebirge / Krusne Hory mountains. The Scheelite balls are up to 5mm and composed of masses of small crystals clustered together. With good magnification it can be seen that some of the crystals are elongated pseudo-octahedra. In fine condition the quartz is undamaged and iridescent in person. From an old Czech collection, this is the most esthetic example of this habit I have ever seen.
