Apatite CaF on Calcite - classic Canadian
stock #21.1-354
Faraday Mine, Farady Township, Bancroft District, Hastings County
Ontario,
Canada
9.1 x 5.4 x 2.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $380
Late Summer 2021
A fine, large doubly terminated Apatite crystal sits on an orange Calcite matrix. The Apatite is well-formed with the typical slightly rounded edges and two different types of termination. Fluorapatites are fairly common in the scattered Skarns of this region but substantial crystals like this are not found very often. There are some minor contacts but overall this is a distinctive textbook form crystal with some areas of glassy luster. A modern classic.
Fluorite - multi-colored cuboctahedron
stock #21.1-287
Madoc, Centre Hastings, Hastings County
Ontario,
Canada
3.7 x 2.7 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $450
Late Summer 2021
The Madoc area of Ontario, Canada is well-known for unusual Fluorites, some of the best in all of Canada. This specimen has an unusual mix of colors which also vary depending on the light source from a yellowish to green and orange to an unusual pinkish hue. It seems there are inclusions on some internal planes that add color and help to refract light. Some faces are slightly frosted but others are very lustrous, the edges are very sharp and the whole is transparent to translucent. The bottom is contacted but the crystal above that zone has very nice form. These better Canadian Fluorites are not available for sale very often, this was collected more than 20 years ago. It is still possible to find Fluorite in this area but good pieces are very rare.
Cubanite - classic twinned crystals
stock #AX-29-091
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Quebec,
Canada
2 x 1.3 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $1400
new year 2021
Cubanite twin crystals in a cluster with virtually no matrix. In fine condition as seen, such good Cubanite crystals have become quite rare as it has been over two decades since the last of this world class find. This one shows excellent golden luster and form, the largest crystal is a full sixling twin. It is very unlikely there will ever be more of this quality found. There are several localities in the world for this mineral but any crystals are very rare and almost all are micros. These Canadian specimens are the by a wide margin the best in the world, and good twins are especially scarce now.
Selenite
stock #20.1-265-(LH1132)
Red river floodway, Winnipeg
Manitoba,
Canada
6.1 x 3.7 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $90
new year 2021
An unusual habit from this famed Canadian locale, a spherical rosette of small bladed crystals hosts a cluster of larger twinned Selenites. I have been informed that at one time some pieces were heated or baked to make this selective white areas on the golden selenite, so this is not fully natural but human modified. Not sure why this was done as the golden color is quite nice on its own but theoverall effect is esthetic in a different way. Overall this looks fine from any angle. The crystals are a golden to orange-yellow color except at the terminations which are a milky white. In fine condition, we have handled a lot of Selenite from this locale but this piece is quite different in style. As is usual for Selenite from the Red River this is strongly fluorescent.
Zircon with Aegirine, Albite etc.
stock #20.1-832
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
5.7 x 4.4 x 4 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
new year 2021
Several sharp Zircons are well-exposed from the classic MSH matrix. The largest Zircon here is 1.4 CM across which is huge for the locality and these crystals are very well-defined. Most of the larger Zircon we have seen from Mont St. Hilaire tend to be much more crude than this. Vividly Fluorescent and in fine undamaged condition.
Diopside
stock #15.1-674
Orford Nickel Mine, St-Denis-de-Brompton, Estrie
Quebec,
Canada
4.3 x 1.3 x .9 CM (miniature)
price: $190
new year 2021
A terminated glassy crystal of Diopside with nice green color on the top. Transparent to translucent, this was in the Warren Johannson collection, a very nice example of a "Nickel" Diopside. There were some large and well-known pale brown crystals found at one time in this locality but very few such complete green crystals. A Canadian classic.
Vesuvianite
stock #AX-16-232
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
3.5 x .6 x .7 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $300
new year 2021
A single glassy prism of yellow-green Vesuvianite from the great Jeffrey Mine. In perfect condition sections are gem clear, transparent and other parts are translucent with wispy internal veils. One edge of the prism has a dusting of tiny transparent Vesuvianites that are nearly colorless. Somewhat dichroic, this more yellow hue is much less common than the more apple green colors. The Jeffrey Mine produced many fine Vesuvianites, certainly the world's best but also was the source of many rare and unique colors. This is a nice and relatively affordable crystal, impressive for the size and nicer in person.
Cubanite with Calcite
stock #AX-3-009
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Quebec,
Canada
1.8 x 1.5 x 1.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $700
new year 2021
A fully twinned Cubanite crystal from the great find at Chibougamau almost 25 years ago. This Cubanite has a small spray of flat Calcite crystals on one corner giving a nice accent. There is no matrix. A circle of an iridescent alteration in the very center of the radiating arms is quite unusual. This patina is the classic brassy golden metallic. The front side is complete all around with the radiating point off center but crystallized on the fat edge. The back is contacted though not broken and about 50% complete. One small chip is noted on the display face that is visible by naked eye but can be hidden by creative mounting. Cubanite is very delicate and some damage is normal, this is not perfect but has far less than most. The find at this mine (Henderson #2) was by far the greatest ever with the best Cubanite crystals ever seen. These are only available from old collections and the most desirable are the flat twinned crystals that show the radiating or star striations.
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