sceptered Quartz with Mangano-Calcite and Dolomite
stock #16.1-113
Huanggang Mine, Chifeng Prefecture, Hexigten Banner, Ulanhead League
Inner Mongolia Region,
China
7.6 x 4.4 x 2.9 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Amazing form and structure on this remarkable specimen. The core of this is a doubly terminated Quartz that has a narrow waist forming the scepter and also has the "jacare" steps and faces along some faces, and some smoother "bending" on others. The addition of the stacked flat Calcites gives contrast and adds a nice pink color. The Quartz are clear to milky but have many inclusions that add a bit of color and interest. The overall form and presentation is unusual even for Huanggang which has produced some wonderful and unusual Quartz over the past few years. Choice.
Gem clear Datolite crystals up to 2.3 CM are complexly mingled with doubly terminated "Cumberland habit" Quartz and clusters of very sharp twinned Sphalerites. It is possible to see greenish inclusions inside some Datolites. This is a rich, undamaged multi-specie specimen from Dalnegorsk, that is especially fine in person. The more this piece is examined the more remarkable details are seen. There are many good Dalnegorsk specimens available in all price ranges, this is especially fine and well worth the cost for a superior specimen.
Fluorite and Quartz
stock #18.1-521
Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang County, Chenzhou Pref.
Hunan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.6 x 4.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $260
Spring 2020
The main Fluorite cube is very sharp, multi colored (blue, green and with amorphous zones of a violet purple). The main cube is 4.7 CM on edge and has very sharp corners. The Fluorite is perched on a pair of Quartz crystals and is contacted / incomplete on the back side but undamaged and choice from the front and sides. A zone of golden colored suphide druse is noted on one face that adds a nice contrast. Good rich color and transparency, a nice Yaoganxian specimen from the period when the mine was still working at full capacity.
Scheelite on Muscovite
stock #20.1-159
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
10.4 x 7.5 x 4.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $800
Spring 2020
Three perfect and sharp crystals of light orange Scheelite are arranged in a connected chain on matrix. Well exposed and nicely nested in the surrounding crystals of Muscovite, this is a a far better thasn typical specimen from the great finds at Xuebaoding almost 20 years ago. The crystals have the classic pseudo Octahedral form and have great luster, some transparency and no damage. Most faces also show complex growth structures and multi stepped zones that are epitaxially aligned. All in all a very clean early Chinese Scheelite with very strong display impact. Sawn on the back from when this was removed, the saw marks are not visible from any display view.
Vesuvianite - classic locale
stock #16.1-697-(stk)
Dognaczka, Banat Mountains
Caras Severin Co.,
Romania
6.4 x 4.6 x 4.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $220
Spring 2020
Glassy isolated crystals of Vesuvianite with some Calcite presenting several habits. Some crystals reach to 2.1 CM. An older specimen dating back to the era when this was part of Hungary.
Beryl var. Aquamarine
stock #6.2-080
Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Pref.
Sichuan Province,
China
6.6 x 4.7 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $600
Spring 2020
A big (4.3 CM) Aquamarine crystal rises above the Muscovite matrix and is unusually well exposed. This is the wide tabular crystal habit that is rare worldwide but at Mt. Xuebaoding was the normal form. This is an older piece from mining in the 2004 season. Later digging restrictions (for Panda habitat protection) have closed most of the higher elevation areas above Pingwu where this came from. Other mining continues in the region but the mineral production is different. These Beryl are modern classics and while they were rather commonly available 6 years ago they are now quite rare on the market. This specimen is well better than average for the clarity, form and esthetics. In fine condition as seen this is better in person too.
Hematite - Goethite iridescent
stock #20.1-140
Covington Prospect, Alleghany County
Virginia,
United States
9.9 x 2.6 x 1.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $680
Spring 2020
Vivid colors and fine form on this older specimen from the Les Hitchings collection, obtained by trade in 1966. A botryoidal stalactitic form this piece comes from Covington, Virginia from an old Manganese prospect near the Peters mountain site which also produced this sort of Hematite. This is a super esthetic piece viewed from any angle and a killer for the location. The name Turgite is commonly used for the colorful "limonites" that are mixtures of Goethite and Hematite usually with the Goethite partly or fully altered to Hematite and showing iridescence. Impossible to find anything like this today on the market, a colorful and choice Virginia specimen.
Ruby Silver crystals (Polybasite) are nicely grouped on the Quartz matrix. Several small Polybasite crystals with classic hexagonal form are present as well, these covered by druzy Chalcopyrite. Esthetic, lustrous and in excellent condition with no visible damage. With strong lighting the translucent ruby color is revealed but under normal display these look like metallic black crystals. Very clean, the polybasite shows well formed independent crystals even though there are clustered in groups.
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