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29 specimens listed
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Olmiite (Poldervaartite)
stock #8.AE-945
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
2.9 x 2.8x .8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $180
Late Summer 2021

A cute thumbnail of what was once a very rare mineral. This find was very important and large, the mineral was no long incredibly rare and it was also realized most of these were actually more accurately identified as another rare mineral, Olmiite. The South African discovery was and is the world's best and for all practical purposes the only locality for good specimens. This piece has a nice 1.8 CM crystal with the faces showing complex modification so it looks stepped and rounded. In fine condition, the color seems to vary depending on the light source from a brownish to orange hue. The matrix is a thin plate with a druse of clear Calcite crystals.

Rhodochrosite
stock #18.1-538
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
9 x 7.4 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1850
new year 2021

An excellent cabinet sized Rhodochrosite that is of an unusual habit for N'Chwaning. Rhodo crystals fully cover the face of this large plate of Manganite matrix. From the display side just a sliver of the underlying black Manganite crystals can be seen. The hundreds of tiny sparkling Rhodochrosite crystals are sharp transparent scalenohedra most being free standing when seen under magnification. In excellent condition, there is no damage found by naked eye and under magnification only micro bruises on edges can be found with some difficulty. The sparkling luster and undulating surface make an attractive cabinet sized specimen from this famed mine. The color is not the intense red that some N'Chwaning Rhodos have but is a good red to pink-rose hue. This is also not a 5 figure specimen it is a very good value for a sizable, undamaged Rhodo from this famed, classic locale.

Fluorite - modified and aligned cubo-octahedral crystals
stock #AX-14-345
Orange River, Namakwa
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
2.9 x 2.2 x 1.8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $160
new year 2021

Dark purple Fluorite crystals that are translucent to transparent in strong lighting. A somewhat unusual locality better known for the red and orange Quartz crystals this is a nice example of this habit. The crystals are edge-modified cubes (cubo-octahedral) aligned with each other. There is no matrix except Flourite which has tiny stepped voids in the flat surfaces. The back and one side are incomplete, the front facing (display face) side is in fine undamaged condition.

Thaumasite
stock #19.1-422
N Chwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Filed
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
3.1 x 2.6 x 2.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $650


A sharp and very choice thumbnail of Thaumasite crystals on matrix in excellent condition. The crystals all have a pale color and are transparent with a slightly milky look at some angles. The largest prism is just under 2 CM long. No damage. The best of this uncommon specie was found a few years ago at NChwanning, and those are now quite scarce. This piece is from that find.

Rhodochrosite- gem clear Rhomb
stock #19.1-351
Black Rock Mine, Black Rock District, Kalahari Manganese Field
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
1.4 x .6 x .3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $340


Small yet very vivid red and super transparent, a colorful gem crystal. , Sharp and perfectly terminated (these almost always have tiny tip cleaves) a very cute Rhodochrosite from the Kalahari. From the Black Rock mine, this is an older collection piece as these were found decades ago, before the big discoveries at NChwanning. Perfect clarity and a choice thumbnail.

Olmiite
stock #19.1-237
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
3.8 x 3.4 x 2.2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $90
Spring 2019

A cute specimen of Olmiite crystals in spherical form on contrasting matrix. Nice luster and fair pink color, these were once all labeled as Poldervartites (a rare mineral at the time of the find) later re-studied and classified as Olmiite (also at that time a rare mineral). This discovery was sizable and enough good specimens found to allow collectors to own a nice piece without major financial pain. In good condition and a good value.

Rhodochrosite - scalenohedral form, classic locale
stock #18.1-668
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
1.7 x 1.5 x 1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $800
Spring 2019

A transparent gem crystal of bright red Rhodo from the classic N Chwanning #1 mine. This is part of a small find made late last year, the result of years of digging in an attempt to find more of the legendary scalenohedral Rhodos last found over thirty years ago. Those are now some of the most highly prized mineral specimens in the world. This new find was small as were most of the specimens, but the quality was excellent. The Rhodo crystals are lustrous and with top intense red. This specimen has a series of face modifications not seen in older materials. The main large crystal is in perfect condition, the termination is not cleaved as many were. One smaller crystal on the side has a cleave that can be seen in some orientations but not in others, that cleave is small but needs to be mentioned. Very few of the old find or this newer one were so clean. Big display impact for the small size.

Rhodochrosite New find, classic locale
stock #18.1-667
N Chwaning Mine, Kalahari Fields, Kuruman
Northern Cape Province, South Africa
2.5 x 2.2 x 2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $1350


A choice and brilliant thumbnail of complex, gem grade Rhodochrosite. This is part of a small find made late last year at the famed Nchwaning #1 mine. The result of years of digging in an attempt to find more of the legendary scalenohedral gem clear Rhodos last produced over thirty years ago. Those are now some of the most highly prized mineral specimens in the world. This new find was small but the quality was excellent. The Rhodo crystals are small but perfect, lustrous and with top intense red. This specimen has a mix of habits and forms all with a luster that is almost impossibly bright, best appreciated in person. A few tiny Hematite crystals are scattered on the piece as well otherwise this is all pure gem Rhodochrosite. We had the opportunity to select a few of the very best pieces from the find as they were unveiled at the Munich show, this is one of them.