A rich cabinet-sized specimen well covered with radiating bursts of acicular Pyromorphite crystals. The specimen has Pyros on both sides but the better view is the side illustrated here. Despite the delicate nature of the crystals and the fragile matrix this is in incredible condition and is a great example of this very distinctive type of Pyromorphite. From the important finds in the 1980 era, this has very good light-green color with very well-defined balls. This can be shipped ok with some care but we prefer to hand deliver to a mineral show. With delicate specimens there is always some risk and we will only ship if this is insured. If you need shipping please ask about the options to do this safely.
Stolzites from the famed find at St. Lucie Mine in the 1990 era were instant classics. These were (and are today) the world's largest crystals, and all are primary Stolzite (not pseudomorphs). There were only a handful of complete crystals like this, with the edge termination complete all around and no damage. Most in the find were a colorless to pale yellow, this bright orange color is exceptionally rare in the find. Stolzite is found as micro crystals in several localities, it is a fairly rare Lead secondary that can look like Wulfenite but has Tungsten instead of Molybdenum. The pocket found at St Lucie was an extraordinary discovery. The crystals were mostly tabular like a typical Wulfenite habit but with stepped edges and a somewhat etched surface. These are now only available from old collections and this orange color is just never seen. A modern classic and a killer thumbnail.
Pyromorphite
stock #21.FC-034
Saint-Salvy Mine, Saint-Salvy-de-la-Balme, Tarn
Occitanie,
France
8 x 7.2 x 5.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $420
Spring 23
Classic French Pyromorphite with good coverage, color and sharp acicular crystals. This large matrix has both vugs and surface coverings of green Pyromorphite on all sides, the red-brown matrix makes a good contrast with the spiky green Pyros. In fine condition and with at least two different habits of crystals, the majority being the pointed termination type.
A very fine Bournonite crystal well-perched on a Barite crystal matrix. The Bournonite is sharp, complete, undamaged and very lustrous, 2.5 CM across showing classic twinning on the edges. In person the striations on the flat face are very distinct and reflect light well. It is especially rare to have the Bournonite so well-exposed, pristine and brilliantly metallic. Ex. Eric Asselborn collection. He notes this is from Le Reservoir find at Saint-Laurent-le-Minier. This is a less well-known locality which is some distance from the well-known Les Malines area. This zone is famed for the best Bournonites of France and some of the best in the world.
A cabinet sized cluster of intergrown Bournonite crystals with a scattering of sharp, lustrous Sphalerites. This is not from the famed region of Les Malines in Gard, well-known as a major classic locality for Bournonites, this specimen is from an unusual locality at Saint-Laurent-le-Minier which is also in Gard. Mindat list this as a source of Bournonite but has no examples pictured. These crystals are up to 2.6 CM and are covering almost the entire specimen. These have a dark patina, some edges show classic cogs-wheel form but most are prismatic and well-defined. The Sphalerites are a mixture of lustrous black and red-orange crystals some of which are transparent. The minerals coat the matrix everywhere except for a small spot on the underside. A choice French Bounonite with a little different look than the usual more metallic specimens. Ex John Marshall collection obtained by him in 1969.
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