Sand Calcite
stock #22.1-563
Bellecroix Plateau, Fontainbleau, Seine-et-Marne
Ile-de-France,
France
5.8 x 4.3 x 2.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
A classic of mineralogy, the sand Calcites from the French discoveries around Fontainbleau have been prized over centuries. This is an especially sharp and perfect example of the complex morphology that has made these famous in the mineral world. No damages or contacts at all, this is complete on all sides. Even though Calcite is a very common mineral, this style and form is unique, instantly recognizable that it could only have come from this one small specific area.
Sand Calcite
stock #22.1-654
Bellecroix Plateau, Fontainbleau, Seine-et-Marne
Ile-de-France,
France
6 x 3.3 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $770
A classic of mineralogy, the sand Calcites from the French discoveries around Fontainbleau have been prized over centuries. This specimen shows perfectly the rhomb form and is complete on all sides. No damage or contacts, Even though Calcite is a very common mineral, this style and form is unique, instantly recognizable that it could only have come from this one small specific area. The main large rhomb shows well the penetration of smaller crystals and is a less common habit from this famed locale. We rarely see this fine sharpness in one of these, many are more rounded or less distinct.
A rich cabinet-sized specimen well covered with radiating bursts of acicular Pyromorphite crystals. The specimen has Pyros on both sides but the better view is the side illustrated here. Despite the delicate nature of the crystals and the fragile matrix this is in incredible condition and is a great example of this very distinctive type of Pyromorphite. From the important finds in the 1980 era, this has very good light-green color with very well-defined balls. This can be shipped ok with some care but we prefer to hand deliver to a mineral show. With delicate specimens there is always some risk and we will only ship if this is insured. If you need shipping please ask about the options to do this safely.
Superb specimen from the old discoveries at Saint Pons (France). Zinkenite from France is highly regarded and only the newer find in Bolivia about 20 years ago was of the same caliber. This specimen is outstanding for the specie and the locality. Crystals to about 3 CM in length show bright metallic luster and contrast well with the golden Siderite crystals. This association was only found (to my knowledge) in the St Pons discovery. The style, habit and look of these specimens is unlike any others. Such specimens are almost never available and only come from old collections or museum trades which are now very rare. This is the best St Pons Zinkenite I have seen for sale.
Stolzites from the famed find at St. Lucie Mine in the 1990 era were instant classics. These were (and are today) the world's largest crystals, and all are primary Stolzite (not pseudomorphs). There were only a handful of complete crystals like this, with the edge termination complete all around and no damage. Most in the find were a colorless to pale yellow, this bright orange color is exceptionally rare in the find. Stolzite is found as micro crystals in several localities, it is a fairly rare Lead secondary that can look like Wulfenite but has Tungsten instead of Molybdenum. The pocket found at St Lucie was an extraordinary discovery. The crystals were mostly tabular like a typical Wulfenite habit but with stepped edges and a somewhat etched surface. These are now only available from old collections and this orange color is just never seen. A modern classic and a killer thumbnail.
Fluorite - vivid red Alpine
stock #23.FC-087
Pointe Kurtz, Mt Blanc region, Chamonix, Benneville,
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
5.1 x 4.7 x 1.9 CM (miniature)
price: $3800
Early summer 2023
A rare and super impressive dark raspberry-red Fluorite from the high Alps. This rich color is incredibly rare and this is a fine example that looks much like a Rhodochrosite from a distance. This piece has minimal Quartz matrix and is mostly all Fluorite, it is fully translucent and will glow a deep red-pink with backlighting. These photos are not backlit so they show typical display conditions for this piece. These octahedral crystals are slightly frosted and have a wet look. These are mostly over 1 CM across in a tightly clustered grouping. From the find at Pointe Kurtz above Chamonix (French Alps), very few had this deep color, most were a typical pale pink. In very good condition, even though there are some small typical rough spots as usual in these clefts. As seen in the photos this is minor and not distracting. Overall an excellent display worthy specimen. The Pointe Kurtz is near the summit of Aguille Rouge in the Mt Blanc zone with an elevation of 3680 meters though the Fluorite was found a bit below that height. Collecting in this region is incredibly technical and requires impressive dedication as well as excellent mountaineering skills. Such specimens are the rare rewards.
Fluorite - pink Alpine
stock #23.FC-083
Lassner-Meissner, Chamonix, Bonneville
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
2.6 x 2.6 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $850
Spring 23
A sharp classic habit French Alpine Fluorite with excellent color and no damage. This crystal grew against a matrix (typical in this type) but it was long ago naturally detached and has since recrystallized on the contact areas. As a result this is a floater, it is crystalized or rehealed on all sides, something very rare from Alpine cleft Fluorites. From a less well-known find years ago in the Mt Blanc Region, this is translucent to transparent, has very good luster and with perfect edges and corners.
Fluorite - classic pink Alpine
stock #23.FC-085
Les Courtes,Chamonix, Bonneville
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
3.5 x 3.3 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2200
Spring 23
A choice and sizable single crystal of well-formed Fluorite having deep pink-red color and lightly stepped faces which gives a frosted texture on some parts. Over all in fine condition, only the underside has some contact/cleaving not seen from the front display. This from the Les Courtes Mountain which lies between the Argentière and the Talèfre Glaciers in the heart of the classic Mont Blanc Fluorite zone. This locality is not so well-known and rarely visited; it is a very demanding technical assent. A few finds of Alpine Quartz put the location on the mineral map but almost no records of Fluorite. Not only an attractive crystal, this is a very rare locality almost never available.
.jpg)
.jpg)
