Romanechite on Goethite
stock #22.1-363
Kiralyszentistvan, Veszprem District,
Veszprem County,
Hungary
5.6 x 3.1 x 2.6 CM CM (cabinet)
price: $260
Fall 22
Romanèchite is not normally a pretty or attractive specie but this find in 2020 produced a few very impressive examples. These look, to many people, like oranges on trees. They do have a very distinctive form. Romanèchite is a somewhat rare Barium-rich manganese specie that is usually a thin coating or in a dark, dull botryoidal form. This specimen looks fine on all sides and has a memorable architecture. Something really different, an esthetic and attractive specimen.
Fluorite - graphic faced crystals
stock #22.1-604-(YL)
Qinglong Mine, Qinglong Co., Qianxinan Pref.
Guizhou Province,
United States
12.2 x 7.3 x 2.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
Fall 22
Several years ago a small find of Fluorite at Qinglong had some unusual dark lines and geometric graphics on cube faces. This is an example of this habit. At first this looks rather dark but with back-lighting the translucent cubes show the patterns well. Most cubes are a light violet color with darker lines, those in the center are less translucent and have a more orange to reddish color. We have photographed this with some back-light to show the forms. I have not seen other examples of this habit for several years, this is an older specimen from a private collection. Typical roughness is noted on the outer edges, the center has no visible damage.
An especially fine example of this remarkable form and important USA find. This specimen has not only a great morphology but lustrous metallic patina and bright iridescence. The individual crystals are also more distinct and larger than most examples we have seen. Some fine Marcasites have trickled out of the Linwood Mine over the past three years and when sharp and perfect like this are really impressive in person. A modern classic find, this piece has no damage.
Quartz - 3 generations
stock #AX-10-114
Holland Mine, Washington Camp, Patagonia
Arizona,
United States
7.7 x 3.6 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $125
Fall 22
An unusual and attractive Quartz specimen from this well-known Arizona area. The core of this specimen is a single 7.5 CM clear Quartz crystal that shows stepped growth and has a macro-mosaic look on several faces. What makes this extra special is that about half of the crystal is over grown on three faces with slightly smoky small Quartz crystals with their terminations mostly at 90 degrees to the main crystal. Those crystals are in turn overgrown by a third generation of even smaller Quartz micro crystals with a darker hue. The two most recent generations have overgrown the termination of the large original Quartz in a hood-like manner. In excellent condition with no visible damage. Ex Ruth and Andy Palmer collection, pre 1975 vintage.
A fine, old large Chabazite specimen with bright sparkling pink crystals covering most of a blocky matrix. Ex Moritz and Adolph Lechner, Frank Edwards and John Marshall collections, This was handled by Schortmann's Minerals when they obtained and sold the Lechner (Austria) collection. Their label dates to about 1936, though the Lechner collection is far older, begun in the late 1800 era but included several much older collections. The label has the older spelling of the locality. There is still a working Quarry in this area but this specimen is certainly far older. In excellent condition, the price in 1936 was two dollars, a sizable amount at that time.
Euclase - gemmy crystals
stock #7.AE-405
Piaotang Mine, Xihuashan Intrusion, Dayu County, Ganzhou Prefecture
Jiangxi Province,
China
6.8 x 3.8 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
Fall 22
An exceptional Euclase from Piaotang (China) from the one time find in 2007. In excellent condition, no naked eye visible damage. The crystals are up to 1.4 CM though most are 1 CM or smaller. These are all water clear, gemmy, well-striated and very sharp. There is a silvery sheen reflected from lustrous faces much like an Apophyllite. The habit of the crystals is similar to older Brazilian specimens, but they are also distinctly different on close exam. This specimen is from Dr Marcus Lueg collection and stands as one of the very best of the find.
Vanadinite var Endlichite
stock #AX-11-271
Mina El Gallo, Santa Eulalia
Chihuahua,
Mexico
5.9 x 4.5 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $320
Fall 22
Clusters and branching groups of elongated, tapered crystals of Vanadinite from a find about 7 years ago. From Mina El Gallo in the Santa Eulalia system, this find produced a small but impressive lot of pointed Vanadinites. This piece has two distinct sides, one has a coating of the crystals by orange iron oxides the other side is uncoated, lustrous and light green to yellow in color. Close exam will find a few bruised tips but the vast majority are perfect and quite esthetic. Displays very well, a choice Mexican Vanadinite.
Vanadinite var. Endlichite
stock #AC-014
Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos
Chihuahua,
Mexico
7.7 x 6.3 3.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Fall 22
From this famed Mexican classic locality better known for fine Wulfenites, there were also some excellent Vanadinites. The Arsenian variety Endlichite was predominent and some of the best were found in the 1960 era. These are almost never seen on the market anymore in any quality. This piece is from that time and very esthetic. Ex Immer Cook collection. This is well-defined, with perfect elongated crystals covering a large face of the matrix. The crystals are barrel shaped and many have hoppered terminations with central canals or holes going quite deep into the prisms. In fine condition and very three dimensional in person, a nice classic Mexican specimen.
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