New Mineral Specimens 1
Updated October 7th, 2009
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B-129 Barite $45 SOLD
Annabel Lee Mine, Hardin County, Illinois
7 x 7.5 x 3.5 cm.
This curious specimen features numerous sprays of the mineral Barite growing inside of a vug in its matrix. The earth-colored matrix contrasts nicely with the light-blue color of the Barite crystals. Another interesting feature of this specimen is that the Barite crystals exhibit pale turquoise-green fluorescence when lit by SWUV light. Good mineral specimens, especially on matrix, from the Fluorite districts of Illinois are getting hard to obtain now that the mines have all closed.
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C-170 Calcite on Fluorite $140
Minerva #1 Mine, Hardin County, Illinois
13.5 x 9.6 x 5.5 cm.
A silky and lustrous example of Calcite from the famed Fluorite mines of Illinois. The best, and my favorite, feature of this large and showy specimen is the way the Calcite has crystallized in the form of wheat-sheaf-like bundles at its center, with a ring-like crust of white Barite in the center, followed by fan-like groups of Calcite crystals forming a ring around most of the specimen. This Calcite specimen also fluoresces a creamy-yellow when lit by SWUV light. Good Calcites from this location are all but impossible to find these days, as the mines have been closed for almost a decade now.
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F-165 Fluorite $80 SOLD
Annabel Lee Mine, Hardin County, Illinois
10.2 x 8.8 x 7 cm.
This cluster of Fluorite crystals exhibit a rich purple color with a blue core that is very pleasing to the eye. This specimen has been backlit just a little bit to illustrate the color zoning. This colorful specimen is contacted on the bottom and has a concave backside that features a piece of the matrix that it formed on. Nonetheless this specimen presents well.
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G-081 Gypsum variety Selenite $65
Grand Rapids Mine, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
11.5 x 7 x 4.6 cm.
Here we present a striking specimen of massive orange Selenite, adorned with a secondary growth of numerous clear Selenite crystals measuring up to 3.5 cm. in size. This specimen needs no further description as it speaks for itself.
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AD-071 Datolite with Copper inclusions $60
Delaware Mine, Delaware, Keweenaw County Michigan
3.5 x 2.5 x 2 cm.
A showy Copper-included Datolite nodule from the famous Delaware Mine in Michigan’s Copper Country. This nodule has been sawn in half and polished. This nodule has good lustre, a nice porcelan-like texture and the snow-white rind is very attractive around the mottled red Copper-included interior.
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AD-070 Datolite with Copper inclusions $45
Delaware Mine, Delaware, Keweenaw County Michigan
3.3 x 2.8 x 1.5 cm.
A showy Copper-included Datolite nodule from the famous Delaware Mine in Michigan’s Copper Country. This nodule has been sawn in half and polished. This nodule has good lustre, a nice porcelan-like texture and the snow-white rind is very attractive around the mottled red Copper-included interior.
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AD-072 Calcite and Quartz Geode $40
St. Francisville, Clark County, Missouri
9 x 6 x 4 cm.
A showy specimen of translucent and lustrous Calcite crystals inside of a Quartz-lined Geode. This specimen is from an obscure location and is older material that is not often seen for sale.
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Q-211 Quartz
variety Amethyst $85 SOLD
(ex. Russ Rizzo collection)
Comstock District, Storey County, Nevada
6.4 x 4 x 2.9 cm.
The Comstock Lode achieved fame for the enormous volume of Silver that was mined there during the mid 1800's. Very few examples of the Silver ore specimens or other associated minerals such as this Amethyst specimen were preserved. While single crystals are occasionally found on the mine dumps and surrounding hills by local collectors it is indeed a rare occasion that an intact cluster of crystals such as this one is found.
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Q-212 Quartz variety Amethyst $25
Comstock District, Storey County, Nevada
4 x 4 x 2.5 cm.
The Comstock Lode achieved fame for the enormous volume of Silver that was mined there during the mid 1800's. Very few examples of the Silver ore specimens or other associated minerals such as this Amethyst specimen were preserved. While single crystals are occasionally found on the mine dumps and surrounding hills by local collectors it is indeed a rare occasion that an intact cluster of crystals such as this one is found.
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Q-213 Quartz variety Amethyst $35 SOLD
Comstock District, Storey County, Nevada
9 x 7 x 4.7 cm.
The Comstock Lode achieved fame for the enormous volume of Silver that was mined there during the mid 1800's. Very few examples of the Silver ore specimens or other associated minerals such as this pale-colored Amethyst specimen were preserved. While single crystals are occasionally found on the mine dumps and surrounding hills by local collectors it is indeed a rare occasion that an intact cluster of crystals such as this one is found.
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Q-214 Quartz $35
Comstock District, Storey County, Nevada
11 x 8 x 6.5 cm.
The Comstock Lode achieved fame for the enormous volume of Silver that was mined there during the mid 1800's. Very few examples of the Silver ore specimens or other associated minerals such as this Quartz specimen were preserved. While single crystals are occasionally found on the mine dumps and surrounding hills by local collectors it is indeed a rare occasion that an intact cluster of crystals such as this one is found.
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V-017 Manganoan Vesuvianite $125
Jeffrey Quarry, Asbestos, Québec, Canada
2.5 x 1.9 x 1.9 cm.
First off let me say that the photo of this specimen does not even come close to doing it justice. The crystals of this specimen have an eye-pleasing, grape-juice-like purple color with several of the crystals showing hints of magenta inside of their greenish-yellow terminations. When illuminated with SWUV light, the crystals on this specimen fluoresce a good orange color. The Jeffrey Quarry has long been known to produce excellent mineral specimens. Good specimens of Manganoan Vesuvianite from this classic location are rarely found these days as the mine is mostly inactive and the lower levels are filling with water.