Cinnabar- twinned elongated crystal
stock #6.2-054
Chatian Mine, Fenghuang
Hunan Province,
China
6.3 x 5.5 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $475
Late Summer 2018
A long (2.7 CM) terminated twin Cinnabar on a crystallized Dolomite vug. A strong piece with esthetic structure, the back has been sawn to aid collecting this piece, the saw marks are not visible on display. With strong light the crystal is quite translucent and glows a deep cherry red. The termination shows the complex re-entrant angles (drill bit type) of twinning. There is a crack near the base of the crystal that looks like an old repair, checking with Acetone did not reveal any problem but we have priced this as if it was repaired (a previous price of 1100.00 was a very good value if not repaired). The better Chinese Cinnabar crystals are well known as the worlds best and were eagerly sought for more than 150 years. For a while in the past two decades these were more available but now the old mines are closed. We will hope that the future produces more.
Wulfenite with Calcite, Quartz etc
stock #18.1-283
Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos
Chihuahua,
Mexico
8.2 x 4.9 x 4.6 CM (cabinet)
price: $375
Late Summer 2018
Dozens of lustrous wet-look Wulfenites are clustered in recesses on a complex matrix. Several of the Wulfenites are transparent on close exam, and they contrast well with the Calcite, Dolomite and a few colorless Quartz crystals. Most of the specimen is in fine condition but close (10x magnification) finds some small areas of chipping. By eye a strong display piece with good contrast and color. Ex Immer Cook collection, this was obtained from Schortmanns Minerals more than 40 years ago.
Shattuckite
stock #AX-14-244
Kaokoveld Plateau
Kunene Region,
Namibia
6.8 x 5.1 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $350
Late Summer 2018
An esthetic and pure mass of the Copper Silicate Hydroxide - Shattuckite. Very good color in a three dimensional specimen. This has a sculptural form holding an open vug much like a vase. The inner surfaces are all a delicate botryoidal blue velvet and the edges show the fibrous structure as well. From the limited finds made in 2013-5 in the Kaokoveld, These were a significant discovery at that time, and remain as some of the best specimens ever for the specie.
Cerussite covered by Pyromorphite
stock #0097-JM-3854
Schapbach, Black Forest, (Wolftal)
Baden-Wurttemberg,
Germany
7.2 x 5.9 x 3.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $390
Late Summer 2018
Exceptional quality for this less well known locality. The matrix is almost all Cerussite in many crystal forms, with a small area of Galena nearly all covered with tiny Pyromorphite crystals. The matrix also has a dusting of very tiny clear Quartz in doubly terminated crystals that add a lot of sparkle. There are other Phosphate minerals on the specimen that are not identified. The Pyromorphite ranges from pale yellow to green hues and the whole is very colorful. The shapes of some Cerussite twins are well defined but brightly colored by the coating of pyromorphite. This all makes a very fine look under magnification. Ex John Marshall, Heinz Stempel
Chrysoberyl -classic, co-type locale
stock #18.1-407
Chrysoberyl Locality, Middlesex Turnpike, Haddam
Connecticut,
United States
2 x 1.7 x 1.5 (thumbnail)
price: $450
Late Summer 2018
A small but significant Chrysoberyl from the Haddam Connecticut locality that was the first place the mineral was found in situ in 1810. Mindat offers a detailed report on this long closed locality that makes great reading.
https://www.mindat.org/loc-213971.html
The main Chrysoberyl on this matrix is .8 CM and is sharp, translucent and a good yellow-green. Ex Larry White collection, these old Chrysoberyls are not often available. The collecting was most active in the early to mid 19th century and it seems by 1901 the original spot was no longer accessible. A choice classic thumbnail for this important locality.
Titanite (Sphene) - gemmy crystals
stock #AC-366
Campo do Boa mine, Capalinha
Minas Gerais,
Brazil
5.9 x 3.8 x 3.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $340
Late Summer 2018
A brazillian specimen that was mined over 25 years ago. Very sharp, glassy twinned Sphenes on matrix up to 2.5 CM on matrix. The matrix is also covered on both sides with a druse of micro Titanite crystals that sparkle nicely. Some of the tiny Titanites seem to be untwinned which is rather rare but is known in a few specimens from this locale. The main crystals are well exposed from the matrix and show well from several angles. Some damage and contacts can be found on close exam but these do no stand out. The price reflects this, a good value for a very displayable specimen.
Rhodochrosite -rhombic and etched forms
stock #AX-22-103
Wutong Mine, Liubao, Cangwu Co. Wuzoh Pref.
Guangxi Province,
China
3 x 2.3 x 2.3 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $420
Late Summer 2018
Deep red color, translucent to transparent and with fine form, a choice toenail sized Rhodo. From the Wuton (Wudong) mine that is no longer producing, but at one time this discovery made nice Rhodos much more affordable for many collectors. This piece has a pair of modified rhombs joined in a V shape. One is sharp and glassy with some stepped etching, the other is more heavily modified, etched and recrystallized. This is the style that was often compared to Rhodos from Sweet Home. There is a lot of similarity but the price is very much lower from this locale!
Prehnite crystals covered by Grossular
stock #AX-10-842
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources, Estrie,
Quebec,
Canada
4 x 3.2 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $320
Late Summer 2018
A cluster of Prehnite crystals are almost completely covered with tiny colorless and white Grossular crystals. There are a few small areas of uncovered Prehnite where it can be seen that these are glassy and transparent. Colorless or white Garnet is very rare and the tiny Grossular here are nearly all transparent, mostly colorless with a few white translucent crystals. It is impossible to find this combination available unless from an oldcollections being dispursed.
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