Gallery 8
Agates, Geodes and Nodules
click on image for larger view
AD-104 Quartz, Hematite & Calcite $135
Dulcote Quarry, Somerset, England
13.5 x 11.7 x 7.6 cm.
Often
referred to as “Potato Stones” by the local collectors because
the outer portion of these nodules resemble a potato. Although there
are many of these to be found in the hills & surrounding valleys,
these once abundant geodes and nodules are almost never seen for sale
these days. This is due to the fact that the main deposits are either
located on private property or in quarries, making it almost impossible
to collect specimens. The geodes and nodules from this classic location
are much prized by collectors due to their colorful nature and endless
arrays of circles and bands that make each one of these specimens truly
unique.
click
on image for larger view
AD-105 Jasper nodule $60
Cairo, Al Qahirah Governorate, Egypt
7.5 x 6 x 2 cm.
When I was in Egypt last April, I saw many nodules of Jasper and Chalcedony just lying around on the ground out in the desert near Cairo. I wondered why no one has ever offered this material for sale. This year while at the Tucson show, I was fortunate enough to run into a dealer who had some of these nodules for sale. I made a trade with him for two of these specimens. It was explained to me that these colorful nodules are difficult to polish. Jasper is a dense, opaque, microcrystalline variety of Quartz. Or more strictly, Chalcedony and is usually red, brown or yellow and coloured by Iron oxides. I think I chose some good ones, with nice earth-colored tones and interesting banding. One thing that I have noticed in my many years of collecting is that there is not too much available when it comes to Egyptian minerals.
click
on image for larger view
AD-106 Jasper nodule $75
Cairo, Al Qahirah Governorate, Egypt
7.8 x 5.9 x 2.1 cm.
When I was in Egypt in April 2010, I saw many nodules of Jasper and Chalcedony just lying around on the ground out in the desert near Cairo. I wondered why no one has ever offered this material for sale. This year while at the Tucson show, I was fortunate enough to run into a dealer who had some of these nodules for sale. I made a trade with him for two of these specimens. It was explained to me that these colorful nodules are difficult to polish. Jasper is a dense, opaque, microcrystalline variety of Quartz. Or more strictly, Chalcedony and is usually red, brown or yellow and coloured by Iron oxides. I think I chose some good ones, with nice earth-colored tones and interesting banding. One thing that I have noticed in my many years of collecting is that there is not too much available when it comes to Egyptian minerals.
click
on image for larger view
AD-101 Dolomite
and Quartz geode $65
(ex. R. Rizzo collection)
Warsaw, Hancock County, IL
7 x 5.3 x 4.6 cm.
One of the more obscure geode locations in the midwest is Warsaw, Illinois which is a little bit south of and just across the border from the more famous, classic locality, Keokuk, Iowa. The Warsaw geode areas have yielded some pretty good specimens over the years. This specimen that I am offering here is one of the best looking Dolomite geodes that I have seen from this locality. This specimen consists of a shell of Calcite with a layer of tiny, clear and sparkly, Quartz crystals which serve as a host for numerous, curved, Dolomite crystals. A top-notch specimen from America's mid-west.
click on image for larger view
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.
click
on image for larger view
AD-080 Amethyst Geode $95 SOLD
Juchem Quarry, Idar-Oberstein, Germany
7 x 5 x 9 cm.
Here's something that you don't see for sale very often. The area surrounding the twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's. By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. This Amethyst geode features a multitude of lustrous, deep-purple crystals of Amethyst in a nodule shaped like a comet. While specimens can occasionally be found, there is no steady supply of material from this classic location as specimens such as these are very highly prized and few of them make their way to America.
click
on image for larger view
AD-081 Amethyst Geode $65 SOLD
Juchem Quarry, Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
8.4 x 8.4 x 4.5 cm.
Here's
something that you don't see for sale very often. The area surrounding
the twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic
Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's.
By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to
a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. This Amethyst geode
features a pock-marked outer rind encapsulating many lustrous crystals
of medium to light-colored Amethyst. While occasional specimens can occasionally
be found, there is no steady supply of material from this classic location
as specimens such as these are very highly prized and few of them make
their way to America.
click
on image for larger view
AD-082 Agate and Amethyst (polished slice) $25 SOLD
Setz Quarry, Idar-Oberstein, Hunsrück Mountains, Germany
5.2 x 5 x .8 cm.
Here we present a polished slice of finely banded Agate with a core of Amethyst. The twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's. By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. Agates from Idar-Oberstein can occasionally be found, but there is no steady supply of material from this classic location.
click
on image for larger view
AD-084
Agate and Quartz $65
(ex. R. Rizzo collection)
Valle Escondido, San Rafael Department, Mendoza, Argentina
5 x 5 x 3 cm.
This vividly-colored Agate specimen features a contorted form and a nearly transparent rim as well as a striking array of colors in the banding that encapsulates a 1 x .4 cm. central cavity of crystallized Quartz. This fine example of Agate will make a colorful addition to your mineral display. I could go on for paragraphs describing this vividly-hued Agate nodule, but rather than be long-winded in my description, I'll let the picture do all of the talking.
click
on image for larger view
AD-085 Condor
Agate with Quartz $95 SOLD
(ex. Linda St-Cyr collection)
Patagonia, Argentina
9.5 x 6 x 4 cm.
This colorful Agate specimen features an almost transparent rind and a striking array of colors in the banding that encapsulates a 2 x 1.5 cm. central cavity of crystallized Quartz. This fine example of Agate will make a colorful addition to your mineral display. I could go on for paragraphs describing this vividly-hued Agate, but rather than be long-winded in my description, I'll let the picture do all of the talking.
click
on image for larger view
Q-220 Quartz
variety Amethyst $50
(polished slice)
Artigas, Artigas Department, Uruguay
7.5 x 4.5 x .5 cm.
This is a beautiful example of a slice of an Amethyst crystal-covered Quartz stalactite. In this case, there are two stalactites that have grown together. You can see their pastel-colored cores and the radial crystal growth outwards from them, which culminates with the purple Amethyst crystals that wrap the double stalactite as it was found in the vug. This specimen is polished on both sides.
click
on image for larger view
AD-087 Agate
with Quartz $60
(ex. R. Rizzo collection)
Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
11.2 x 7.5 x 3.5 cm.
Here's something that you don't see for sale very often. The area surrounding the twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's. By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. This specimen features finely banded gray, white and pink Agate alternating with layers of Quartz. While occasional specimens can be found, there is no steady supply of material from this classic location.
click
on image for larger view
AD-088 Agate $60
(ex. R.
Rizzo collection)
Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
7.2 x 5.4 x 5.6 cm.
Here's something that you don't see for sale very often. The area surrounding the twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's. By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. This polychromatic Agate features finely banded layers of gray, white and pink making for a specimen with a striking contrast of colors. While occasional specimens can be found, there is no steady supply of material from this classic location.
click
on image for larger view
AD-089 Agate
with Amethyst $80
(ex. R. Rizzo collection)
Idar-Oberstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
8.2 x 7.1 x 3.7 cm.
Here's something that you don't see for sale very often. The area surrounding the twin cities of Idar & Oberstein gained notoriety for the fantastic Agates & Amethyst lined geodes discovered there in the mid 1500's. By the beginning of the 1800's the production of material had fallen to a small fraction of what was found in its heyday. This polychromatic Agate features finely banded layers of gray, white and pink culminating with a vug of tiny Amethyst crystals in its center. While occasional specimens can be found, there is no steady supply of material from this classic location.
click
on image for larger view
AD-090 Agate
with Quartz $85
(ex Linda St-Cyr collection)
Saint Egidien, Glauchau, Saxony, Germany
10.1 x 7.8 x 4 cm.
The tortured form of the inner space of this nodule is evidently due to pressure from inside as it formed. This specimen features a band of red Agate and a core of colorless Quartz. This colorful specimen is from the very famous and classic German locality, Saint Egidien. Agates and Geodes from Germany are treasured by European collectors and are not easy to come by.
click
on image for larger view
AD-091 Phlogopite in Anthophyllite nodule $35
Hermanov, Velké Mezirící, Moravia, Czech Republic
4.1 x 3.6 x 2.6 cm.
This nodule features a rim of radially arranged crystals of the Amphibole mineral, Anthophyllite. The core is comprised of deeply colored, coarse-grained, Mica group mineral, Phlogopite. The locals call these unusual nodules Hermanov spheres.
Home |Mineral Galleries | Order | Links | Contact
© 2003 - 2011 Cal Neva Mineral Company