A very pretty spray of bright red to orange color Quartz from this little known locality. The Ställdalen Iron Mines were long ago active and today specimens are quite uncommon in any quality at all, much less in such esthetic sprays. Hematite inclusions give the color and looks from orange to red with some colorless zones as well. Overall in fine condition, very close exam finds a few small rough spots on a few crystals that are not easily noticed, most are super pristine. Other world localities that are noted for red Quartz come to mind, (Orange River Namibia, Egremont England etc.), but none of these look quite like the very distinctive and uncommon Swedish specimens. This is a particularly attractive piece, very hard to find today.
Diopside - Fe rich variety
stock #AC-121
Sala
Vastmanland,
Sweden
4.9 x 4.8 x 3 CM (miniature)
price: $150
new year 2021
A historic specimen from Sala in Sweden the type locality of Salite, which is a discontinued name for Fe rich Diopside. This was a Lechner collection piece (Austria) which was later sold by the Schortmanns's dealership. The Schortmann label dates this to the 1940's though the specimen is probably over 100 years old. The main crystal here is distinct, terminated and is a translucent oil-green color. Some scattered Chalcopyrite adds a contrasting gold. The Diopside is exposed partly but also is well-enclosed by the matrix which is mostly more Diopside. Simply never seen on the market this is a nicely crystallized bit of mineral history.
Cobaltite -classic locale
stock #17.1-780
Hakansboda, Lindesberg
Vastmanland,
Sweden
5.8 x 4.3 x 3.4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $240
Worldwide mix summer
An excellent sharp Swedish Cobaltite crystal on typical matrix block of mixed Sulfides (Chalcopyrite etc). The Cobaltite is a modified cube (8MM) with distinct striations and fine metallic luster that is mirror bright as seen. Looks fine by eye, but the cube has a corner contact at one edge seen with magnification and there is a small crack in the crystal not visible without 10x magnification. That said this is far better than average and as near to perfect as we have seen. These are not common and in this quality very rare, often quite pricy.
Cobaltite - Modified Cubic crystal
stock #17.1-748
Hakansboda, Lindesberg
Vastmanland,
Sweden
3.6 x 2.4 x 2 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $190
Pre Holiday 2017
A sharp 9 MM metallic silver crystal with clear edge modifications perched in matrix. An older specimen from this classic location that has produced perhaps the best ever crystals for the specie. Some minor sulfide overgrowths are seen and the crystal has retained the bright luster that makes these so distinctive. Could easily be trimmed to make a thumbnail if desired. A good example well crystallized for this often damaged specie that is also affordable.
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