Olmiite (Poldervaartite)
stock #8.AE-945
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province,
South Africa
2.9 x 2.8x .8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $180
Late Summer 2021
A cute thumbnail of what was once a very rare mineral. This find was very important and large, the mineral was no long incredibly rare and it was also realized most of these were actually more accurately identified as another rare mineral, Olmiite. The South African discovery was and is the world's best and for all practical purposes the only locality for good specimens. This piece has a nice 1.8 CM crystal with the faces showing complex modification so it looks stepped and rounded. In fine condition, the color seems to vary depending on the light source from a brownish to orange hue. The matrix is a thin plate with a druse of clear Calcite crystals.
Ripidolite (Clinochlore) pseudo after Garnet
stock #AX-19-122
Spurr Mine, Imperial Heights, Baraga County
Michigan,
United States
2 x 1.8 x 1.7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
Early summer 2021
A complete 360 degree Garnet crystal fully replaced by the Ripidolite (var. of Clinoclore) with a tiny sliver of matrix. A classic from Michigan, these were at one time called Aphrosiderite, and the replacing materials were usually referred to as Chlorite. This thumbnail is quite sharp and has kept some small edge modifications seen on some faces. The source of this one is the Spurr Mine, most others we have seen do not have specific localities.
Pyrargyrite with Acanthite - classic
stock #20-FC-030-(9124)
Freiberg District, Mittlesachsen
Saxony,
Germany
3 x 2.4 x 1.9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $580
Early summer 2021
A lustrous but dark cluster of well-formed textbook crystals of Pyrargyrite associated with some Acanthite on a little Quartz matrix. Under strong lighting or with magnification the ruby-red reflections and highlights are seen and there are some translucent areas as well. This is a complex piece in that nearly every side has some attractive crystals and it is hard to pick a "best view". An older specimen from a very classic locality where silver was mined since the 1300's.
Chrysocolla - Stalactitic with Quartz coatings
stock #21.1-217
Ball Park Bench, Ray Mine, Scott Mountain, Pinal County
Arizona,
United States
3.4 x 1.8 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $1500
Early summer 2021
A killer thumbnail of stalactitic Chrysocolla. The fingers are all slender, elongated and have thing overgrowths of transparent Quartz. The color is vivid though the Quartz layer and when backlit the piece glows an intense blue. From a recently rediscovered old stock of the 1978 find at the Ray Mine, this is a choice example of a quality rarely available. A classic for Arizona and the USA this piece is from the Ball Park Bench find. The Quartz is a clear transparent overgrowth that has a glassy luster. In incredible, fine condition which is remarkable for these slender and delicate growths. Of the 12 fingers here there is only one tip that is incomplete and one finger on the backside is contacted. Neither of those is visible in normal display, this is a super esthetic US classic thumb.
Beryl var. Aquamarine - gemmy USA Classic
stock #15.1-686
Mount Antero, Chaffee County
Colorado,
United States
2.4 x 1 x .9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $390
Early summer 2021
A very clear, sharp and lustrous Aquamarine collected in the 1940's by Warren Johannson. From the famed Mt Antero location which is a magnificent, high elevation pegmatite. In fine condition this is a pale green-blue color and fully transparent.
Brochantite
stock #AX-3-413
Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Municipio de Santa Cruz
Sonora,
Mexico
3.3 x 2.3 x 1.6 CM (thumbnail)
price: $260
Early summer 2021
A sizable thumbnail of Brochantite from the earliest find at Milpillas. This has the mixture of very slender hairlike crystals and the more stout, thicker ones. Excellent color and condition. We saw very few good thumbnails sized pieces of Brochantite from Milpillas as most were quite large. The Brochantites found at this locale were quickly hailed as world-class and set new standards. This small piece is a choice example that is a perfect, tiny part of this important discovery.
Staurolite - Historic specimens
stock #21.1-067-(2954)
Mine Hill
Georgia,
United States
2.8 x 2.2 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $150
Early summer 2021
A pair of sharp, complete Staurolite crystals that were added to the Levison Collection in 1898. These are labeled as from from Mine Hill, Georgia. This not a known locale but these do look much like some of the more recent Fannin County materials. One is twinned and the other is a single crystal, sharp textbook form. A photocopy of the Levison Ledger page is included as is his printed and handwritten label with the date.
Elbaite
stock #20.1-279
Santa Rosa Mine, Itambacuri
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
2.6 x 1.3 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
new year 2021
A zoned green flat top terminated Elbaite crystal from old finds at Santa Rosa. The crystal has good glassy luster, moderate transparency and only one small .5 mm chip. Weighs 7.4 Grams, this is priced below typical market rates. Pretty, affordable tourmaline that glows well when backlit.
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