Cavansite on Stilbite
stock #21.1-283
Wagholi Quarries, Wagholi, Pune District
Maharashtra,
India
4.4 x 3.9 x2.2 CM (miniature)
price: $380
Late Summer 2021
Esthetic clusters of bright blue spheres of Cavansite crystals on contrasting creamy white stilbite. Cavansites from Wagholi are fairly common on the mineral market but very clean, brilliant and esthetic pieces are less common. As the quarries are shut down they have been getting much less available. Cavansite has the most vivid color of all the Traprock minerals, a bright Cavansite is a nice addition to any collection. This piece has individual balls to 1.8 CM, but most are clustered together forming a chain of spheres. The blue is in two different tones and one sphere is broken open so the radial structure is easily seen. This offers several good display angles. In fine condition with great luster, sparkle and color.
A fine and uncommon example of the As variety of Descloizite known as Dechenite with several vintage labels. The front surface of this specimen is densely covered with sparkling crystals of red orange As-Descloizite. The crystals are quite elongated and most are in fine condition as well. Old labels are included from Julius Bohn (Vienna, dealership begun in 1884), W Mauncher (Munich 1870-1930) and an unattributed Italian. Choice, historic and unlike "normal" Descloizite!
Scheelite on Muscovite
stock #6.2-899
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
4.3 x 3.4 x 3 CM (miniature)
price: $880
Late Summer 2021
Outstanding miniature with a sharp and glassy Scheelite crystal nestled in Muscovite blades. The Scheelite is translucent to transparent and has the sought-after orange color. There is no damage or chipping but there is some cracking to note near the base which have been stabilized. This is not distracting or easy to find without some magnification. The price has taken this into account. Good Scheelites with fine color have become costly, larger specimens of this quality are often well into the 5 figures. This piece was collected in 2005 while the small mines on the higher reaches of Mt. Xuebaoding were active. More recent finds from Pingwu are found at lower elevation and mostly are a light yellow to brownish. A pretty modern classic.
Calcite - old English
stock #21.1-288
Haile Moor Mine, Haile, Copeland
Cumbria,
England
4.7 x 3.2 3.1 CM (miniature)
price: $390
Late Summer 2021
An esthetic cluster of glassy, translucent reddish- pink color Calcites from Cumbria, England. Old labels from the collection of Marie Osbonlighter and Robert Eaton are included. This Calcite is vividly Fluorescent. Most of the colorful Calcites from this region were found long ago the majority were colorless. The Haile Moor Mine is known to have produced some Calcites with Hematite inclusions that give a reddish color like this. An attractive miniature from most any point of view. Overall in fine condition though there is one cleave on a crystal that is visible at some angles (shown in these photos) but is clearly not distracting or easily noticed.
Forsterite (Peridot)
stock #21.1-296
Sapat Gall, Naran KaghanValley, Mansehra District
Kyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan
4.3 x 3.3 x 2.4 CM (miniature)
price: $1450
Late Summer 2021
Deep green glassy gem crystals of Forsterite in a well-composed cluster with no matrix. This is in excellent condition, a hefty 57 grams and looks fine from every side. The only broken spot is on the bottom where this was removed, this is a 360 degree display piece. Especially esthetic, this specimen has the desirable architecture sought in a fine Peridot. The crystal faces have complex striations and etching with slightly rounded edges as is typical from this locale. Sapat Gali is famed as perhaps the very best locality today for Peridot, this is a true modern classic.
A rather sharp, well-striated Garnet crystal with several edge and face modifications. The exterior is a mahogany brown but a gemmy green interior is seen in several geometric pits on the crystal where smaller Garnets were attached. This intermediate form of Garnet can be a mixture, or in this case, zoned with both species. The old name for this was Grandite and some have called these Mali Garnet. An affordable example of this interesting type of Garnet.
Cuprite with Miersite and Marshite
stock #10.1-085
Rubtsovsky Mine, Rubtsovshy District
Altaiskii Krai,
Russia
4.3 x 3.7 x 2. CM (miniature)
price: $875
Early summer 2021
This is mostly a fine Cuprite specimen with a main octahedron over 3 CM across, which is very sharp and defined. There are several other smaller crystals and between them are some excellent small crystals of Miersite that are bright yellow, gemmy and well-formed. The Marshite is smaller and less distinct but still a nice addition. From the great find at Rubtsovskly Mine in 2010, these were instant classics when found. The Cuprite is especially lustrous and has geometric growth structures well displayed on the larger faces. Aside from the unavoidable broken area where this was removed, the specimen is perfect, the main crystals are in undamaged condition and are in textbook forms.
A super attractive miniature from a small new find. This piece was selected from just a few pieces that came out recently as it has just great form and presentation. Aside from that one small lot I have not seen any others before or since. The Shattuckite balls are both isolated and in small clusters. From some angles these look like berries on an evergreen tree. The Malachite is all primary crystals with sharp acicular form. In excellent condition, displays well from all sides. A great Copper secondary specimen that is really different.
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