Cassiterite on Quartz
stock #8.AE-1048
Elsmore Tin Mine, Elsmore, Gough Co.
New South Wales,
Australia
9.1 x 8.2 x 5.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $1850
new year 2021
An exceptional specimen of top quality gemmy Cassiterite crystals scattered on a wide Quartz crystal. A classic Australian locale where mining began in 1871, this piece is the best I have seen personally and is a fine Cassiterite from any place. The crystals all show twinning, some are contacted but not broken, and all are super lustrous. Crystals are up to 2.3 CM across. The Quartz crystal is broken and contacted on the backside, the front has some edge contacts and rough areas but nothing distracting from the bright Cassiterites. These look black without strong light, but when well lit, they are a golden brown color, translucent to transparent and contrast well with the Quartz matrix.
Corkite on Plumbogummite and Goethite
stock #20.1-900 (ZS-CRK4099)
Serra Da Mina Mine, Cercal do Alentejo, Santiago do Cacem
Setubal,
Portugal
7.3 x 5.8 x 4.2 CM (cabinet)
price: $1350
new year 2021
Corkite is a rare Lead Phosphate mineral related to Beudantite that is just never seen as display specimens. Most are micromounts where the tiny crystals can be mesmerizing. This piece is something else, a full cabinet sized top grade specimen with hundreds of gemmy Corkite crystals sparkling in an esthetic iridescent display. The matrix is a blue green to orange Plumbogummite and a chatoyant botryoidal Goethite which sets the Corkite off nicely.
The Corkite crystals are sharp, glassy transparent in colors of brown, orange and blue that come alive under magnification. These are up to about 1 mm in size and most are well isolated, yet still densely covering the matrix. I have never seen another Corkite specimen that can be displayed and appreciated as an esthetic and very colorful piece in a mineral cabinet.
A superb and very hard to find Barite with the sharp color zoning of red to orange Realgar inclusions that makes remarkable phantoms. This classic mine has been closed now for a long while, there will never be more of these and there were never many. Most of the Realgar included Barite found was not so transparent and the red color filled the entire crystal. This piece has excellent clarity and the inner zoning is very sharp and well-defined. Overall in fine condition for such thin and delicate crystals, these are also far larger and better isolated than most crystals. There are very small rough areas as seen in the photos but this is never the less a superb display specimen, and a standout in any suite of Barites.
Cubanite with Calcite
stock #AX-3-009
Henderson Number 2, Chibougamau
Quebec,
Canada
1.8 x 1.5 x 1.1 CM (thumbnail)
price: $700
new year 2021
A fully twinned Cubanite crystal from the great find at Chibougamau almost 25 years ago. This Cubanite has a small spray of flat Calcite crystals on one corner giving a nice accent. There is no matrix. A circle of an iridescent alteration in the very center of the radiating arms is quite unusual. This patina is the classic brassy golden metallic. The front side is complete all around with the radiating point off center but crystallized on the fat edge. The back is contacted though not broken and about 50% complete. One small chip is noted on the display face that is visible by naked eye but can be hidden by creative mounting. Cubanite is very delicate and some damage is normal, this is not perfect but has far less than most. The find at this mine (Henderson #2) was by far the greatest ever with the best Cubanite crystals ever seen. These are only available from old collections and the most desirable are the flat twinned crystals that show the radiating or star striations.
Elbaite (Rubellite) with Lepidolite
stock #AX-7-233-(646)
Himalaya Mine, Gem Hill,Mesa Grande District, San Diego County
California,
United States
2.1 x 1.5 x 1.2 CM (thumbnail)
price: $650
new year 2021
A fine, super colorful thumbnail Tourmaline from the Larry White collection. Great condition, gemmy transparency and vivid pink to red color that contrast with the purple Lepidolite. This is currently mounted on one of Larry's handmade wooden bases but it can easily be removed if desired. A slight bend near the termination and some color zoning add extra interest. In addition the crystal shows a very good dichroic color shift in polarized light. Choice small thumbnail. A classic USA gem crystal, esthetic, and even nicer in person.
Proustite
stock #20.1-910-(ZS-pst4097)
Imiter Mine, Imiter Mining Dist., Tinghir Province
Draa-Tafilalet Region,
Morocco
10.2 x 7.1 x 4.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $1200
new year 2021
A large specimen richly covered on both sides with hundreds of brilliant Proustite crystals. This shows perfectly why this specie is called Ruby Silver, the crystals are all transparent, gemmy and sparkling red. The vivid color and bright luster of the transparent prisms stands out against the dark matrix. Ex David Lloyd collection, in outstanding fine condition with a few small blebs of Silver seen with magnification. From the early finds of Proustite at Imiter that were a great sensation in the mineral world. Prior to this find Proustite was only available from a few old classic Silver localities in Chile and Europe, they were (and are) treasured and expensive rarities. The Moroccan find had allowed collectors with less deep pockets to have fine specimens of this "noble" mineral.
A superb and complex specimen of Wulfenite from the important find of 2018 in Yazd Province, Iran. The Wulfenite crystals are quite large for this find, up to 2.8 CM across. These are now partly coated by White Calcite and dusted with tiny black crystals of Plattnerite and a few small Mimetites. The Wulfenites from this ancient Lead mine are unique in the world, the forms and associations are different from any others. This is in remarkably fine condition as very few were so intact. The form is quite sculptural and the complexity adds a lot of visual interest. An excellent addition to any suite of Wulfenites or Lead minerals.
Wulfenite with Calcite
stock #AX-31-066
Ahmad Abad Mine
Yazd Province,
Iran
6.2 x 5.1 x 3.8 CM (cabinet)
price: $1100
new year 2021
Very thin, delicate crystals of yellow Wulfenite with some orange centers. Small balls of white Calcite are scattered on these blades and in some cases there are tiny lines of crystals on the edges of the Wulfenites. In fine condition, despite the obvious fragility all of the main crystals and most of the small ones are perfect and undamaged. This is from the unusual discovery at a small, ancient lead mine in Yazd Province, Iran. The crystals have several habits and are both pointed and with flat edges. The color in person is quite vivid. This was an important find and the Wulfenites were huge mineral news when these emerged, these are unlike any others ever discovered. This piece is far above the average quality and choice for the locale.
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