Leadhillite - USA classic
stock #23.FC-052
Beer Cellar Mine, Newton County, Granby
Missouri,
United States
3.6 x 3.1 x 2.5 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2400
Early summer 2023
A very rare classic example of this uncommon mineral from the long gone Beer Cellar Mine. Nicely crystalized with several habits showing but mostly the flat hexagonal type protected in a vug along with tiny Hemimorphite blades. Leadhillite is only known from a small number of localities worldwide, one of the most legendary finds was this very small one in 1895. This was also the last time the mineral was found in this entire region. From an old French collection, this was probably one of the few specimens that were collected by AE Foote and sold in his French shop at that time. This specimen is certainly not pretty (except to lovers of rare Lead minerals) and is not the coveted blue green color. It is also not over 20,000 USD (as have been the last ones in this size to be auctioned). These crystals are a good pearly white, mostly about 3-4 MM but one is about 1 CM across. Two faces of this cherty Dolomite matrix host the Leadhillites with the largest zone being 2.8 CM across. While not conventionally pretty this is a real holy grail for Tri-state and Lead secondary collectors. Such classics are almost never available and always greatly prized.
Fluorite - classic pink Alpine
stock #23.FC-085
Les Courtes,Chamonix, Bonneville
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
3.5 x 3.3 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $2200
Spring 23
A choice and sizable single crystal of well-formed Fluorite having deep pink-red color and lightly stepped faces which gives a frosted texture on some parts. Over all in fine condition, only the underside has some contact/cleaving not seen from the front display. This from the Les Courtes Mountain which lies between the Argentière and the Talèfre Glaciers in the heart of the classic Mont Blanc Fluorite zone. This locality is not so well-known and rarely visited; it is a very demanding technical assent. A few finds of Alpine Quartz put the location on the mineral map but almost no records of Fluorite. Not only an attractive crystal, this is a very rare locality almost never available.
A small slab section of Rhodochrosite stalactite with good red color and complete all around. This shows the radiating crystal structure or flower-like form and not the usual "bullseye". Looks fine on both sides, this is from the famed Capillitas (Argentina) which is the only place in the world where such things are found.
Apatite - gemmy crystal with twist
stock #22.1-167
Mpwapwa
Dodoma Region,
Tanzania
3.7 x 2.9 x 1.4 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $360
Spring 23
Transparent blue crystal of Apatite on Feldspar matrix. The crystal has a twist and some bending as well, it is hard to see in photos but distinct in person. The Apatite has a well developed termination, glassy luster. This comes from a small find in 2022 at a little known locality in Tanzania.
Cobaltite - classic Swedish
stock #17.1-713
Hakansboda, Lindesberg
Vestland,
Sweden
3.4 x 2.6 x 2.5 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $130
Spring 23
A sharp metallic crystal of well-formed Cobaltite sits well-exposed on a Sulfide matrix. Ex Glenn Petrie collection, in excellent condition and with bright luster. Usually many of these crystals are quite damaged, this is in excellent condition and is over 7 MM across.
Fluorite - new find spinel twin, multicolor
stock #23.1-273
Hohenstein Massif, Omaruru District
Erongo Region,
Namibia
3.3 x 2.7 x 2.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $590
Spring 23
From an exciting new find in the Erongo (Namibia) this hosts a perfect elongated Spinel twin crystal. Transparent and very colorful, with backlighting this glows vivid hues of purple, green and shows a zone of yellow-orange. We have not made the photos with strong backlight so this looks as it would in normal display lighting. I have seen a few of these posted on the web with strong backlight which looks incredible but this is unrealistic and I think misleading. No matter the light, this is a textbook perfect twin on a Fluorite matrix. It is sharp, complete and undamaged. Far better in person too.
Vanadinite - epitaxial stack of crystals
stock #16.1-242
ACF Mine, Mibladen, Midelt, Khenifra Province
Meknes-Tafilalet Region,
Morocco
3.2 x 2.3 x 1.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $420
Spring 23
Vanadinite crystals in rare stacked array from the incredible Mibladen area (the ACF Mine). This region has produced literally tons of nice Vanadinite, of many sorts. It is very hard to find anything really different or special in the production, but a few pieces do sometimes turn up. This is one such special example that looks somewhat like a tree and seems almost unreal in the stacked arrangement of the crystals. The tabular crystals are naturally arranged by decreasing size in a graduated tower. Out of thousands of specimens we have seen, this is unique. Some very minor edge chips exist but are nearly invisible. The red color is more intense from some angles which is also typical of this locality. All in all, a fine toenail sized piece, with an impressive arrangement.
Wulfenite with Mimetite - classic USA
stock #14.1-329
Mammoth -St Anthony Mine, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal County
Arizona,
United States
3.4 x 2.8 x 3.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $120
Fall 22
Free standing Wulfenite crystals with complex forms on a yellow-orange mass of tiny Mimetite clusters and balls. From the legendary Tiger area, these long closed mines are one of the most revered mineral localities in the USA. An older specimen from the L. Sweetman collection with handwritten label. Some damage and edge roughness exists so not for perfectionists but the main crystal is in fairly good condition and is a nice example of this habit. At one time Wulfenite was mined as a molybdenum ore here, the only place in the world where this was done. Tons were crushed and very little survived.
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