Mimetite - classic German locale
stock #23.1-665
Haus Badden Mine, Sehringen, Badenweiler, Friburg
Baden-Wurttemberg,
Germany
6 x 4.5 x 3.1 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $165
Tiny but perfect orange balls of Mimetite on a darker matrix from this ancient Lead mine. The Haus Badden mine is known for some fine rare lead secondaries as well as some more common yet esthetic species. This specimen is from an old find, there was a newer find of Mimetite by collectors in 2009 that were yellow color, these are a much deeper orange.
Spinel on Marble- classic Mogog red
stock #24.1-181
Pein Pyit, Mogok, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
Mandalay Division,
Myanmar (Burma)
3.1 x 2.4 x 2.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $160
A single bright red crystal of Spinel sits on a small mass of pure white Marble. The form is a modified octahedron and is undamaged, complete and presents well. This is classic Mogok material, the crystal is vividly fluorescent and displays well from all sides. This is a small and affordable version of the top larger Spinels that are known from here which typically sell at incredibly high prices.
Topaz - clear gem crystal
stock #24.1-182
Sakangyi-Kyauk-Pyat-That, Mogok, Pyin-Oo-Lwin,
Mandalay Division,
Myanmar (Burma)
2.7 x 1.8 x 1.6 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $240
Sharp and water-clear transparent Topaz crystal with very bright luster. From the pegmatite of Sakangyi, it is perfectly formed and undamaged. Sadly the current state in Myanmar is very much in chaos and no mining of any sort is going on. This may take a very long time to resolve. The complex mineralogy of this region has produced many incredible finds and is of course world famed for the gem Corundum found there. Topaz like this can be fantastic, showing these very elegant and complex terminations, prism modifications and very sharp form.
Plancheite with Heterogenite crystals
stock #8.AE-635
Mashaba West Mine, Kolwezi Mining District
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
5.5 x 3.4 x 3.3 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $230
An open cavity filled with sharp needle-like blue Plancheite crystals and small black spherical Heterogenite which also is crystalized in some spots. An excellent example of the specie and with attractive powder blue color in fine condition. This specimen is illustrated in Mindat as well.
Breunnerite - (Fe bearing Magnesite)
stock #AX-35-102
Muhlebach, Ernen, Goms
Wallis,
Switzerland
4.3 x 3 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $220
Pre Tucson
Something quite unusual. Breunnerite is a variety of Magnesite that was for almost 2 centuries considered to be an accepted mineral specie. This is now classified as a Magnesite variety but with a high Iron ratio and Mg dominant. No matter the classification, these are huge crystals for this variety, up to 2.8 CM and these contrast well with the greenish Talc matrix. The best of this material is found in European Alpine regions, as was this specimen. The crystals also show zoning and look much more like Siderite than Magnesite, and are partially translucent. Not often seen at all in the mineral market here, this is an especially well-crystallized specimen.
Quartz - faden habit
stock #AX-25-006
Waziristan Ophiolite, North Waziristan
Kyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan
6.3 x 2.3 x .5 CM (cabinet)
price: $240
Pre Tucson
Textbook perfect, a gem clear faden Quartz crystal with distinctly visible central white string inclusion. The crystal is in the form of stacked and conjoined flattened sections most of which have aligned striations and all of which are flawless with no chips or issues. This style of faden Quartz is famed from several old European Alpine localities, but this level of perfection from there is very rare and typically very expensive. The amazing finds from Pakistan (Waziristan area) have been one of the great mineral discoveries of the past decade. The quality and quantity were enough to allow fine pieces like this to be far more affordable. However, nothing lasts forever and these Quartz are already becoming classics. This specimen was selected from hundreds found in 2019 for condition and esthetic presentation, it is far better than average for this find.
Rhodochrosite with Aegirine
stock #23.1-727
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Monteregie
Quebec,
Canada
2.8 x 2.7 x 2.4 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $180
Pre Tucson
Rhodochrosite crystals clustered with a few slender Aegirine piecing the flat Rhombs. Classic form from Mt St. Hilaire showing the triangular shapes and flattened rhombs that are well-known from this amazing mine. I very good condition, no eye-visible damage and really no matrix either.
Barite - USA classic locale
stock #23.1-729
Hartsel, Hartsel Mining District, Park County
Colorado,
United States
5.1 x 3.9 x 1.5 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $240
Pre Tucson
From Hartsel which is almost exactly in the center of Colorado, this is a stacked cluster of flat habit crytsals. The color is blue grey with a lighter hue at the tips and edges. The crystals are epitaxially stacked and this is in very good condition. Colorado has several important Barite locations, the three best known are Stonham, Book Cliffs and Hartsel. All three have very different styles of Barite. Very distict form and habit on this older specimen, an excellent example of a nice Hartsel.
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