Shattuckite and Plancheite after Anhydrite
stock #AX-19-185
M Sessa Mine, Katanga Copper Crescent
Katanga (Shaba),
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
4.4 x 1.5 x 1.4 CM (miniature)
price: $700
New Year 22
A remarkable and unusual secondary Copper piece; a hollow cast that shows the form of the original Anhydrite crystal that was replaced by bright blue Shattuckite. The Shattuckite is covered with a mint green layer of Plancheite making a nice contrast. The whole piece has the form of the original Anhydrite crystal and maintains a central void with the same shape. Reminiscent of the shape of Azurite casts from the Apex Mine in Utah, this is an even more rare replacement found just once about 20 years ago at the M'sessa Mine of the Katanga Copper Crescent.
Fluorite (purple cloud) with Calcite
stock #21.1-167
Yindu Mine, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City
Inner Mongolia Region,
China
3.9 x 2.4 x 2.6 CM (miniature)
price: $1350
New Year 22
An incredible Yindu Fluorite with a glass-clear blue crystal that has a deep purple cloud inside and a fine edge phantom as well. Super sharp and resting on Calcite the Fluorite has impeccable bright luster. The overall effect is like looking into an aquarium. Good Yindu Fluorites are now very much admired and sought after, as they are both beautiful and unlike most any other Fluorite. One edge of this elongated cube is contacted where it was on matrix but there is no damage, breaks or chips. This rests on a crystalized mass of white Calcite and the contrast is excellent. Better in person too.
Scorodite with Pyrite
stock #AX-5-066
Baishiding Mine, Zhongshan Co, Hezhou Prefecture
Guangxi Province,
China
4.6 x 3.6 x 3.1 CM (miniature)
price: $950
New Year 22
Bright gemmy blue and purple Scorodite mixed with Pyrite on a Scorodite matrix. The matrix looks brown in some lighting but the color is from inclusions inside many small Scorodite which are both massive and crystalized. The main crystals are very defined, lustrous and have a very intense color. Overall in fine condition exam with 10-20X magnification finds some tiny rough areas but no serious damage is seen by naked eye. From the find at Henzoh almost 10 years ago, we have not seen any Scorodite from China since, it seems this was a one time find. Scorodite is known from many localities but only a few have good, sizable, bright crystals like these and those are never common.
Frankeite - well-crystallized
stock #21.1-284
San Jose Mine, Oruro
Potosi,
Bolivia
4.6 3.8 x 3.7 CM (miniature)
price: $880
New Year 22
A complete floater, crystallized on all sides with slender blade-like crystals of Frankeite radiating in clusters and ball-like aggregates. An incredibly rare mineral, all the best specimens known came from just a few small finds in Bolivia, this is a superb example from what may be the best of those discoveries about 35 years ago. Not long ago Frankeite was often called the rarest Sulfosalt in the world. That may have been true then but today that statement is not true though it is still very super rare. The well-formed balls and clusters are distinctive for this special find at the San Jose Mine. In excellent condition, this displays well from any angle. Ex Dr. Eugene Sensei Collection. As far as we know there have been no more found since about 2005.
Pyrite on/replacing Pyrrhotite
stock #21.1-409-(ZSZ)
Contessa Mine, Santa Eulalia District
Chihuahua,
Mexico
7.2 x 6.5 x 4.4 CM (cabinet)
price: $1250
New Year 22
Fantastically esthetic and perfectly formed curving Pyrrhotite crystals are covered with bright golden Pyrite. In perfect undamaged condition, ex Arizona Desert Museum. The main Pyrrhotites are slender sparkling gold crystals. With tapering habit some also have twists or curves. The Pyrite on the crystals faithfully follows the crystal striations. A rare and impressive Mexican specimen, the matrix is a mix of sulphides (Sphalerite, Galena) with Calcite, Quartz and Dolomite. The largest, slender crystal is over 6CM long and crowned with a rosette of small Calcite crystals. Way more impressive in person, this is not a typical Mexican Pyrrhotite!
Epidote - Northeastern USA classic
stock #17.1-822
VAG Mine, Lowell & Eden
Vermont,
United States
5.1 x 1 x .9 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $600
New Year 22
A single sharp and glassy Epidote crystal with perfect termination from the famed VAG Mine, (aka Belvidere Mt./ "Eden Mills" Vermont), find made over 35 years ago. This zone produced several very fine crystals including the largest complete Epidotes ever found in the USA (and perhaps the world). This specimen is much smaller than the giants but has no repairs (the big ones were broken). Almost never available except in older collections, this is in perfect condition, partly transparent with well-defined striations.
Pyromorphite on Coronadite - classic locale
stock #19.1-817
MMM Mine, Broken Hill, Yancowinna County
New South Wales,
Australia
11.4 x 7.5 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $800
New Year 22
A large and rich cabinet sized Pyromorphite on Coronadite from Broken Hill. A classic locality and a classic association from this iconic mine. The matrix is very three dimensional, a botryoidal black background for hundreds of very lustrous olive green Pyromorphites. Under the Coronadite is massive Galena and a little Cerussite that is not seen from the display side but adds a heft to the specimen. In exceptional condition, very hard to appreciate in photos but an excellent classic in person.
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