Fluorite with phantoms
stock #AX- 20-157
Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County
Illinois,
United States
8.2 x 6.7 x 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $700
pre Tucson 2015 update
Excellent form and sharp edged cubes typify this fine old Cave in Rock Fluorite. In excellent condition and with a nice contrasting matrix of tiny golden Sphalerites and white Calcites. Moderate backlighting makes this glow deep purple hues and the phantoms are very evident. Backside contacting is typical but the 3 dimensional presentation is much better than usual.
An exceptional Tsumeb specimen that is both esthetic and really different. Ex. Sussmann Collection, this has the form of blocky Cerussite crystals that are fully encased in smaller Anglesite crystals. Some of the Anglesite shows inclusions and overgrowths of Malachite and Linarite. The Azurite crystals are the finishing touch and these are very fine, electric blue and with top luster. The whole displays very well, the color contrast is excellent and I have never seen this style presentation in any other Tsumeb piece.
Calcite & Quartz (Cumberland habit)
stock #AX-20-155
Sa Duchessa Mine, Oridda Valley, Domusnovas, South Sardinia Province
Sardinia,
Italy
5 x 3.7 x 3 CM (miniature)
price: $200
pre Tucson 2015 update
An odd yet attractive very old Sardinian Calcite specimen with a second generation of Quartz in "Cumberland habit". The Quartz also has numerous inclusions and some is in stacked groupings. There is considerable Hematite on and in many crystals here, adding nice color contrast. In good condition and attractive, most everything is doubly terminated.
Cassiterite
stock #AX-12-213
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
3.8 x 3.3 x 2.9 CM (miniature)
price: $150
pre Tucson 2015 update
There have been many Cassiterites recovered from Xuebaoding, but the prismatic type with the pyramidal termination is by far the rarest form. This is a good lustrous single crystal that shows the habit well. There are contacts and a few tiny chips so the price reflects this yet it is still a very nice example.
Weloganite with Dresserite, Dawsonite
stock #AX-10-946
Francon Quarry, Montreal
Quebec,
Canada
8.5 x 8.1 x 5.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
pre Tucson 2015 update
A sizable cavity filled with sharp Weloganite crystals up to 2.2 CM long. There are numerous tiny crystals of the classic related species (and probably some Strontianites too. The Francon Quarry is now gone, its Weloganites were by far the best ever found worldwide. The biggest of these are undamaged with the elegant complex hourglass habit well presented. There are some "natural" broken crystals in the pocket that show signs of partial rehealing. A good, affordable specimen with some well formed, rare crystals.
Variscite with Wardite crystals etc.
stock #13.1-362
Little Green Monster Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield
Utah,
United States
5.8 x 4 x 2.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $120
pre Tucson 2015 update
An unpolished Variscite etc. nodule showing many of the associated species (Crandellite etc.) and having a fine vug of blue green Wardite in distinct crystals. Often Wardite from the Fairfield area is white or grey, this is a much more attractive color and the crystals are very sharp, clear and much better than typical.
Calcite included by Realgar
stock #8.1-123
Shimen (Jiepiayu) Mine, Shimen County, Changde Prefecture
Hunan Province,
China
3.1 x 2.9 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $140
pre Tucson 2015 update
We have seen very few of these esthetic Calcites from the Shimen mine, and none for several years. This was obtained in China in 2002, it is a single gemmy Calcite included by and associated with blood red Realgar. The crystal displays well and the staining of the orange-red color adds a very attractive touch.
Golden Barite with Calcite
stock #6.2-746
Dachang Ore Field, Nandan
Guangxi Province,
China
7.8 x 5.4 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $450
pre Tucson 2015 update
A sweet gemmy golden Barite with tabular Calcites that are decorated in turn with Pyrite. The Barites have dark phantoms and the overall contrast is excellent. This is from a small find at Nandan in 2002, which were mostly very damaged. This has minimal damage, none of which is naked eye-visible from logical display angles. Much nicer in person too.
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