Pyrite - altering to Hematite/Goethite
stock #7-AE-230
Green Monster Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Prince of Wales Island
Alaska,
United States
3.5 x 3.1 x 2.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $90
Late Summer 2021
From the famed Green Monster Mountain (Alaska) a Pyrite crystal partially pseudomorphed by Iron Oxide species. This locale is well-known for fine Epidote but the Pyrite pseudos are seldom seen. The Pyrite on this has good somewhat iridescent luster on some faces. Several faces also have some fissures and and stepped zones. The pyrite form is distinct and the specimen seems to be solid and stable.
Ripidolite (Clinochlore) pseudo after Garnet
stock #AX-19-122
Spurr Mine, Imperial Heights, Baraga County
Michigan,
United States
2 x 1.8 x 1.7 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
Early summer 2021
A complete 360 degree Garnet crystal fully replaced by the Ripidolite (var. of Clinoclore) with a tiny sliver of matrix. A classic from Michigan, these were at one time called Aphrosiderite, and the replacing materials were usually referred to as Chlorite. This thumbnail is quite sharp and has kept some small edge modifications seen on some faces. The source of this one is the Spurr Mine, most others we have seen do not have specific localities.
Scheelite on Quartz
stock #21.1-241
Tae wha Mine, Neungam-ri, Angseong-myeon, Chungju
Chungcheongbukdo,
South Korea
3.8 x 3.2 x 2.2 CM (small miniature)
price: $80
Early summer 2021
A Scheelite octahedral crystal perched on some clear Quartz crystals from the famed Tae Wha Mine in Korea. There are some chips on the Quartz but the Scheelite is in good condition. In strong light the Scheelite is translucent to transparent.
Elbaite
stock #20.1-279
Santa Rosa Mine, Itambacuri
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
2.6 x 1.3 x 1.3 CM (thumbnail)
price: $80
new year 2021
A zoned green flat top terminated Elbaite crystal from old finds at Santa Rosa. The crystal has good glassy luster, moderate transparency and only one small .5 mm chip. Weighs 7.4 Grams, this is priced below typical market rates. Pretty, affordable tourmaline that glows well when backlit.
Mcguinnessite
stock #0888-JM-3125
Miners Ridge, Red Mountain, Mendocino County
California,
United States
7.2 x 4.9 x 3.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $90
new year 2021
A good sized blocky matrix with Mcguinnessite in rich crystalline crusts on several faces. Ex John Marshall collection, this is from the type locality area of Red Mountain. Close exam shows there are many tiny spheres and cups of blue green mineral, as well as some massive zones. A nice example of this unusual Copper mineral.
Tangeite (Calcio-Volborthite)
stock #21.1-044
Kayenta, Navajo County
Arizona,
United States
2.8 x 2.2 x 1.4 CM (thumbnail)
price: $90
new year 2021
Colorful thumbnail of this uncommon Copper-Vanadium specie from Arizona. This specie was known as Calcio-Volborthite for many years but is now renamed Tangeite after this was re-described from an older type locale in Kyrgyzstan. Well-formed crystals on contrasting matrix that are especially vivid under the microscope. This mining area close to Monument Valley has several small old workings which were sources as far back as the late 19th century.
Selenite
stock #20.1-265-(LH1132)
Red river floodway, Winnipeg
Manitoba,
Canada
6.1 x 3.7 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $90
new year 2021
An unusual habit from this famed Canadian locale, a spherical rosette of small bladed crystals hosts a cluster of larger twinned Selenites. I have been informed that at one time some pieces were heated or baked to make this selective white areas on the golden selenite, so this is not fully natural but human modified. Not sure why this was done as the golden color is quite nice on its own but theoverall effect is esthetic in a different way. Overall this looks fine from any angle. The crystals are a golden to orange-yellow color except at the terminations which are a milky white. In fine condition, we have handled a lot of Selenite from this locale but this piece is quite different in style. As is usual for Selenite from the Red River this is strongly fluorescent.
A cute thumbnail with the focus being one larger crystal of Bustamite. The specimen also includes some very tiny Spessartine as well as the Sulphides listed above. The Bustamite has the typical crude or melted look on some edges but is distinctly terminated and well-defined. Broken Hill is a famed locality that is on every short list of world class deposits and is certainly a classic.
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