New Minerals 2
Updated March 18th, 2008
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B110 Barite with Cinnabar inclusions $50 SOLD
Clarashall Mine, Ruschberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
5.2 x 4.5 x 1 cm.
Here we have a seldom-seen (in the US) specimen of clear Barite with hundreds of tiny crystals of the mineral Cinnabar. I have encountered these Cinnabar-included Barites in the past, but have never seen one as richly included as this one is. The V-shaped notches on the top of the crystal are not due to damage, but rather are natural growth patterns.
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F-139 Fluorite $35
Tongbai, Nanyang Prefecture, Henan Province, China
7 x 5 x 1.5 cm.
A gemmy mound of bi-colored, interpenetrating Fluorite crystals. This specimen has 2 layers, the first being purple in color and the second being golden yellow, which renders the specimen a dark yellow with hints of purple. Another feature of this specimen is that it has a creamy-yellow fluorescence in its yellow layer, while the purple layer below exhibits a pale orange fluorescence in parts of the purple layer. These gorgeous and unusual Fluorite specimens caused quite a sensation in 2007 when they first appeared and compared to the myriad of Fluorites that are available from China, there are very few of these to go around and they are much sought-after by collectors.
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H-038 Hematite pseudomorph after Marcasite $50 SOLD
Farafra Oasis, White Desert, Egypt
4 x 3 x 2 cm.
These dramatic pseudomorphs were originally formed as Marcasite crystals on the ocean bottom. These unusual specimens were later pseudomorphed to Hematite making for a very three-dimensional and attractive mineral specimen. These radial bursts of crystals were found in the remote western desert of southwest Egypt and dug up by French dealer Alain Carion. Recently I have seen specimens of the same size and quality selling for as much as $100 or more, making this specimen quite a bargain.
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H-039 Hematite pseudomorph after Marcasite $50 SOLD
Farafra Oasis, White Desert, Egypt
4 x 3.9 x 3.5 cm.
These dramatic pseudomorphs were originally formed as Marcasite crystals on the ocean bottom. These unusual specimens were later pseudomorphed to Hematite making for a very three-dimensional and attractive mineral specimen. Actually, based on the form of the crystals, I believe that this one may have started out as a Pyrite cluster. These radial bursts of crystals were found in the remote western desert of southwest Egypt and dug up by French dealer Alain Carion. Recently I have seen specimens of the same size and quality selling for as much as $100 or more, making this specimen quite a bargain.
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O-009 Orpiment $55
El'brusskiy Mine, Northern Caucasus Region, Russia
6.5 x 5 x 1.8 cm.
A very well-crystalized and lustrous specimen of sharply-formed Orpiment crystals. While these Orpiment specimens can still be found from time to time, most of them have some degree of bruising. The crystals on this specimen are pristine and quite colorful. This specimen is sure to brighten up anyone's mineral display.
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C-130 Covellite $175 SOLD
Summitville, Rio Grande County, Colorado
5.4 x 5.3 x 3.4 cm.
A very three-dimensional, iridescent specimen of the Copper Sulfide mineral, Covellite. This specimen features a fan-shaped cluster of lustrous Covellite crystals on matrix, the largest of which measures 3 cm. Good crystals of the mineral Covellite are extremely rare, especially of this size, and oddly enough, good Summitville Covellite specimens are harder to come by than the ones from Butte, Montana.
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Q-141 Rose Quartz on Smoky Quartz $165 SOLD
Paroon Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan
5 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm.
Rose Quartz, while common, is rarely found as crystals, most of which are found in Brazil. This rare specimen is from the small find made in 2002. No more of these spectacular Rose Quartz crystals from Afghanistan have been found since. This crystal is comprised of a crudely-formed Smoky Quartz crystal whose front face is covered with a thin layer of lavender-red Rose Quartz crowned by a flowing river of parallel-growth, crystallized Rose Quartz up to 1 cm. with a red hue reminiscent of a good Swiss Fluorite. Most of the Rose Quartz crystals from this find could be measured in millimeters. I think that these qualities make this already rare specimen even more exceptional and unlike any Rose Quartz specimen that I have encountered from Afghanistan.
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F-140 Feldspar
var. Orthoclase with Opal var. Hyalite $95
(Baveno twin)
Tawara, Gifu Prefecture, Honshu Island, Japan
9.8 x 2.3 x 2 cm.
When one thinks of Japanese minerals, one often overlooks the fact that some excellent pegmatite minerals can be found there. This specimen is a testament to that. This columnar Baveno-twinned Orthoclase crystal is well-formed with a modified termination and features a drape of the variety of Opal, Hyalite which fluoresces a bright apple-green when illuminated by SWUV light. These fine examples of Orthoclase are from a find that was made over 30 years ago and no specimens of note have been found at this location since. A must-have specimen for any Feldspar or pegmatite mineral collector.
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F-141 Feldspar
var. Orthoclase w\Biotite & Chabazite $60 SOLD
(Baveno twin)
Tawara, Gifu Prefecture, Honshu Island, Japan
6.6 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm.
When one thinks of Japanese minerals, one often overlooks the fact that some excellent pegmatite minerals can be found there. This specimen is a testament to that. This columnar Baveno-twinned Orthoclase crystal is well-formed with a lustrous termination and is accented by patches of mustard-yellow Chabazite, the largest of which features a nest of minute Biotite crystals. These fine examples of Orthoclase are from a find that was made over 30 years ago and no specimens of note have been found at this location since. A must-have specimen for any Feldspar or pegmatite mineral collector.
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L-019 Lepidolite $170
Coronel Murta, Minas Gerais, Brazil
17 x 7.5 x 4.7 cm.
A massive column of ball-like Lepidolite from the world renowned pegmatites of Brazil. This dramatic tower of Lepidolite has a mirror-like lustre that stands out above and beyond most Lepidolite specimens of this type of habit. I consider this to be a modestly-priced specimen as I have seen significantly smaller examples of this ball-like form of Lepidolite sold for nearly as much as I am asking for this one. A truly majestic specimen worthy of a space in anyone's mineral cabinet.
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Q-142 Rose Quartz on Quartz $220
Sapucaia Mine, Galiléia, Doce Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
7.7 x 6 x 4.8 cm.
This spectacular specimen of Rose Quartz is from the famed Sapucaia Mine. This remote mine was worked for a brief time starting in the 1950s and ceased producing in 1980. Many collectors consider the Rose Quartz from this famous location to be among the best in the world due to its intense saturation of color. As is common for specimens from this location, the Rose Quartz crystals are found splashed, draped or spread across a matrix of milky Quartz. Specimens from this location are highly prized by collectors for their dramatic appearance.