Cassiterite
stock #4.2-269
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
8 x 7.4 x 5.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $800
A well placed cluster of lustrous Cassiterite perched on the classic Muscovite matrix of Mt. Xuebaoding. Very nice presentation and contrast, the Cassiterite is just over 4 CM across and in very good condition. By naked eye there is no damage but good magnification shows slight edge chips that are not at all distracting on display.
Glassy, gemmy pale aqua crystal with classic flattened form from the great finds at Xuebaoding. A nice clean example that is affordable and esthetic. These were plentiful just a few years ago but are now much less common and more expensive when available. Good value.
From the high elevations of Mt Xuebaoding (better known for Scheelites and Cassiterites), this ice-like fluorite shows the rare habit of octahedron with a cube face on the tip of each corner. The surface has the "melted" look the re-crystallization makes and has a pleasing esthetic. Ex Bert Ottens and Marty Zinn Collections, this type of Fluorite is no longer being found and is a great addition to any serious Fluorite suite.
A fine, bright and glassy Apatite CaF sits esthetically in a nest of Muscovite. From the high elevation locality of Xuebaoding best known for great Scheelites, these are now very hard to find in such good condition. The main crystal is over 2 CM across (this is large for the locality) and has excellent pink-violet color. Strongly fluorescent and gemmy, a very attractive example.
A gemmy 4 CM aqua in perfect condition is penetrating a 4.8 CM Albite crystal sitting on Muscovite. From the now famous Mt Xuebaoding area, this is a fine combo piece. Unusual relationship is prominently displayed in a very esthetic specimen. There are a lot of Aquas on the market from this area, this one is distinctly different and nice.
The Xuebaoding Aquamarines are distinctive and have become rather common on the market, but good ones are much less common. This is a good example with deeper than average color and distinct sharp form. The single gem crystal is well placed aesthetically on the matrix. As a bonus the dark area on the right includes a zone of redissolved Cassiterite, an unidentified green mineral similar to Mushingtonite, and an unknown Silver metallic mineral. As this location is not able to produce at this time, these will be harder to get and are still a remarkable bargain.
I believe that the area near Pingwu, China is one of the greatest mineral localities ever. Some amazing quality minerals are well known but usually not many variations. However, this is not a typical Xuebaoding Aqua! In 2007 I purchased a small lot in China that were unusually elongated beryls that were bi-color (white to blue). I expected there would be many more, but there were not, the habit is very rare and not found since. We originally sold this piece in 2007, I am glad to have it back. It has the largest crystals I have seen from this find (4.8 CM) and it displays super well. No damage at all on the display side, there is matrix contact on the back. The crystals are well-arranged on the minimal matrix which is the usual Albite and Muscovite. Most of the terminations show an unusual hoppering that is also unique to this one find.
Fluorapatite and Scheelitte on Muscovite
stock #8.1-414 GWT
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.2 CM (miniature)
price: $575
A light purple Fluorapatite 1.6 CM sits next to sharp gemmy orange Scheelites on a Muscovite matrix. Most Apatite from Xuebaoding is more pink and this shade is very rare. Fantastic color contrasts, glass-like luster and good esthetics make this a very fine piece. Very clean of damage by eye, there are some very minor contacts and chipping found at 10x magnification. A top notch example!
