SOLD Hematite pseudo after Marcasite
stock #SOLD 19.1-447
White Desert, Farafra Oasis
New Valley Governorate,
Egypt
5.4 x 4.8 x 3.5 CM (cabinet)
price: $0
These Hematite pseudos when they are good have an incredible form. This specimen is one of the very best I have seen, perfect, complete all around and with well developed faces. Marcasite is an unstable mineral that can decay over time but these pseudos are perfectly stable. The detail of growth is perfectly preserved and presented on all the faces and the form looks like a leaf. These are sporadically available but very few are of this size and sharp development. A superb pseudomorph and an very esthetic piece.
Cerussite and Dundasite
stock #19.1-407
Modra Stola, Ziate Hory, Olomouc Region
Moravia,
Czech Republic
6.9 x 6.4 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $330
A rich specimen of accicular Cerussite that is covered with tiny needles and micro balls of greenish to white Dundasite. The whole piece has a pleasing minty green hue due mostly to the Dundasite. Dundasite is a rather rare mineral and usually seen as an associate of Cerussite. This locality is an ancient abandoned mine dating to the fifteenth century which produced some good lead secondary minerals from the oxidized zone to modern (1980 vintage) collectors. Close exam of the Cerussite shows that the individual needles are sixling twins with a star-like cross section. Choice and very fine for the locale.
Pyromorphite
stock #AX-15-051-(C085)
Daoping Mine, Gongcheng County, Guilin Prefecture
Guangxi Province,
China
7.4 x 5.3 x 3.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $2600
Outstanding small cabinet specimen of very well crystallized Pyromorphite from the "golden years" of the great Daoping Mine. Ex. collection of Frances and Shields Flynn, this is a now classic habit that has grown on a hollow cast of pure Pyromorphite that is seen on the backside. In super clean condition with rich deep color, many of the crystals show hoppered terminations but others have tapered or flat tips. This locality became instantly famous in 2000 when the first good pieces can out. The "golden years" that followed produced what many feel were the best ever Pyros. Production is now minimal and sporadic, this quality and size is no longer to be found. This specimen was exhibited in 2005 in the Tucson (TGMS) China display. Excellent value for this quality.
A remarkable Barite from any place but especial exotic being from India. The core of this piece is a single elongated Barite prism that has been overgrown with oriented clear Barites in perfect alignment. In fine undamaged condition, this was from a small recent find. The Barites from this find have been called "scepters" but they seem to be more complex than that and more an epitaxial chain habit.
Spessartine with minor Hyalite Opal
stock #15.1-472
Tongbei, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou Prefecture
Fujian Province,
China
6 x 5 x 2.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $290
Bright lustrous Garnet crystals fully cover the front of this matrix plate. From an older find at Tongbei, there is some minor Hyalite opal as well, but mostly this is a Spessartine that has dozens of sharp, perfect crystals. No damage seen at 10 x magnification, the color is a dark red that is best seen with strong lighting. These represent a great value for the price as this locality had produced so many fine pieces when it was operating.
Boleite on Atacamite, Selenite
stock #19.1-274
Amelia Mine, Boleo District, Municipio de Mulege
Baja California,
Mexico
9.3 x 8 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1750
A fine, huge Boleite crystal showing interpenetration (twinned?) on contrasting matrix. From the recently released stash (2018) of material from the classic Amelia Mine, these were a big surprise in Tucson and were quickly sold out. This is an especially choice piece of this rare mineral with a giant 1.4 CM crystal that is well exposed. Better in person the matrix has been stabilized as is normal for all these since as this matrix is very fragile. The green surface is composed of tiny Atacamite grains that are naturally cemented on the matrix, which is mostly Selenite but also has a few chunks of Anglesite embedded as well. Matrix pieces with this quality and size have not been available for many years.
Rhodochrosite with Calcite etc.
stock #19.1-446
Santa Eulalia, Aquiles Serdan
Chihuahua,
Mexico
3.2 x 2.3 x 1.8 CM (thumbnail)
price: $120
A neat thumbnail of interlocked rhombs of Rhodochrosite with tiny calcites on some edges. The crystals are complete and in undamaged condition. This is a nice example of the HQLP (High Quality, Low Price) concept. Santa Eulalia over many years produced Rhodochrosite in small finds and unique pockets of many different habits, forms and styles. Perhaps the most diverse Rhodo locale in the world, Santa Eulalia is remarkable and continues to yield small finds of surprising quality.
Chalcopyrite with Galena and Sphalerite
stock #AX-22-137
Borieva Mine, Madan, Rhodope Mts.
Smolyan Oblast,
Bulgaria
10.8 x 7.7 x 6.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $2600
Great Chalcopyrite crystals are remarkably rare, these are superb, sharp and quite large. Set on a "melted" Galena matrix with scattered crystals of Sphalerite, the Chalcopyrites are perfect, no chips, cracks or any damage. These have a nice patina and dark brassy color that sets off the well defined striations. Textbook perfect forms these show both single crystals and twins in fine detail. We try to grab any great Chalcopyrite crystals from this region. I believe they are some of the best ever found when they are this well defined. In person this is especially impressive and it is one of the most esthetic we have seen. Individual crystals are just under 5 CM, and the contrast with the matrix is strong. This specimen is also a "floater" it is crystalized all around and displays fine from most any angle.
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