Gallery 9
Mineral Specimens for $50 and under
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Q-330 Amethyst $25
Kingston Range, San Bernardino County, California
4.5 x 4 x 2.5 cm.
Besides looking for new finds when I go to the Tucson Show each year, I'm constantly looking for hard to find material and classic locality specimens. This Amethyst specimen fits into the category of the latter two. This location has been known since the early 1900's when Tiffany & Co. developed this area for Amethyst to use in its jewelry. This is a formidable location to dig at as the Mountain does not give up its treasures easily. This specimen was found in late 2010. A lot of the material from this find has unusual color-zoning, as if it started out as milky Quartz with oriented bands of Amethyst and a final, micro-thin layer of clear Quartz.
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Q-274 Quartz with Dravite inclusions $25
Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
5 x 5.5 x 1.5 cm.
Here we present a gemmy, double-terminated Quartz crystal that has been penetrated by another Quartz crystal. The result of this penetration is that the lower crystal was slightly bent. At the intersection of the two Quartz crystals are needle-like sprays of the variety of Tourmaline, Dravite. I lit this specimen from the back when I photographed it in order to illustrate the clarity of the Quartz. The downside of this is that the Dravite appears much darker than it really is. The true color of the Dravite is gray-blue. An unusual quartz specimen in my opinion.
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C-188 Calcite $40
Santa Eulalia District, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Chihuahua, Mexico
12 x 5.8 x 6 cm.
This specimen of Calcite features many soccer-ball shaped crystals that culminate in a spire on the right side of the specimen. This calcite specimen has an excellent lustre and a rich brown color on one side with the backside being closer to grey-black in color. This specimen shows very well the diversity of the mineral Calcite.
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F-104 Fluorite $45
Denton Mine, Hardin County, IL
6.5 x 7.2 x 2.3 cm.
A very clear crystal of purple-blue Fluorite that has been partially etched. A really neat Fluorite specimen if you ask me. This specimen has wear on several of the corners and taking this into consideration, I have reduced the price accordingly.
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M-042 Muscovite and Quartz $30
Nipissing District, Ontario, Canada
7 x 5 x 4 cm.
Here's another Canadian specimen from an obscure locality. The photo of this red Muscovite does not even come close to doing the specimen justice. This specimen is so bright and lustrous and the color is so vivid that you will be impressed when you see it in person.
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S-092 Stilbite $50
Partridge Island, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada
7 x 6 x 2.9 cm.
This richly-colored and very lustrous specimen of yellow-orange Stilbite is another example of why the Zeolites of Nova Scotia are highly sought-after. This specimen features numerous starburst-like clusters of Stilbite crystals. Partridge Island is not really an island but a peninsula whose access is dictated by the Bay of Fundy's tides, which depending on the time of year, can differ by as much as 17 meters.
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C-161 Calcite with Duftite $50
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
7 x 7 x 2.8 cm.
A Tsumeb classic, this plate of well-formed Calcite crystals is sprinkled with the Lead and Copper arsenate mineral Duftite. This specimen for its size and quality makes for a good bargain.
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C-167 Calcite $25 SOLD
Caravia, Asturias, Spain
6.5 x 6.5 x 3 cm.
This vuggy specimen features hundreds of radiating, clear needles of Calcite. The Asturias region of Spain, while noted for the variety of fine Fluorites that have been found there, also produces little beauties such as this Calcite specimen.
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G-091 Garnet variety Spessartine on Feldspar $35
Lechang Mine, Guangdong Province, China
5.3 x 4 x 2.6 cm.
These Spessartines are definitely in the upper echelon of Garnet specimens. For the past 11-12 years, Chinese Garnets (especially the specimens from Fujian) have been quite abundant. But the really good specimens have been too few and hard to come by. I am very fortunate to be able to get these amazingly gemmy specimens from a lesser known Chinese locality. These Garnets have a luster that has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Another plus is the striking orange color, much like the famous Spessartine Garnets from the world famous Little Three mine in Ramona, California.
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G-071 Garnet variety Grossular $45
Gåsgruvan Ore Field, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
8 x 5 x 4.5 cm.
This specimen hails from a locality very near Sweden's most famous mineral locality, Långban. This mineral specimen features many lustrous, well-formed crystals of the variety of Garnet, Grossular measuring up to 6 mm. in size. A great locality specimen.
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C-182 Calcite on Amethyst $35 SOLD
Juchem Quarry, Idar-Oberstein, Germany
9 x 8 x 2.7 cm.
This specimen is a real old-timer. Its label indicates that it was collected in 1965. This Geode section consists of numerous, intensely honey-colored, scalenohedral Calcite crystals on a background of deep purple Amethyst. Although collecting at this famous quarry is allowed on a very limited basis, rarely does material make it to the United States.
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M-022 Malachite, Chrysocolla & Calcite $50
Katanga Copper Zone, Katanga, Congo
specimen
size = 5.5 x 6.7 x 4 cm.
crystal size = 2.5 x 2.5 x 2 cm.
This is one wild-looking mineral specimen, according to my wife when she saw it for the first time. This beauty features the classic Katanga matrix of Chrysocolla and Calcite upon which is perched a cluster of wedge-like Malachites. The wedges are so dense at their centers that they appear black, grading to a velvet fuzz at their tips.
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D-008 Dolomite with Chalcopyrite $30
Black Rock Quarry, Lawrence County, Arkansas
9.3 x 6.5 x 5.7 cm.
This specimen features numerous saddle-shaped Dolomite crystals sprinkled with lustrous Chalcopyrite crystals. The Dolomite crystals have a delicate pink color. This classic location is considered to be the premier location for Dolomite in the United States.
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D-009 Datolite $50
Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey
9.7 x 7 x 3.9 cm.
This specimen features a cluster of pale, green Datolite crystals on matrix, measuring up to 1.2 centimeters. This specimen has a good luster & has no damage. Datolite specimens of this quality are almost impossible to find these days as this classic locality has been closed for many years now.
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D-011 Cobaltoan Dolomite $35
Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
7 x 5 x 2 cm.
This skullcap-like specimen of the Cobalt-containing variety of the mineral Dolomite features a pearly lustre and a pleasing pink hue. Cobaltoan Dolomite from Tsumeb is hard to find these days. The rear of this mineral specimen is also completely crystallized.
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A-044 Adamite $50
Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico
7 x 5 x 2 cm.
This Adamite specimen features numerous crystals cascading down its matrix somewhat like a waterfall. The Ojuela Mine has long been renowned for the Adamite specimens that it has produced, and this lustrous specimen is no exception to the rule. Unlike most Adamite specimens, this one has a lesser degree of fluorescence, which is most unusual for this mineral species.
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T-061 Tourmaline (blue cap) with Albite & Lepidolite $35
Paprok, Kunar Province, Afghanistan
3 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm.
This interesting specimen could be a really dark Indicolite with a lighter blue colored cap or a black Tourmaline with a blue cap. The crystal at the rear is not terminated but I don't think this takes anything away from this specimen.
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G-064 Gypsum $25 SOLD
Hallstatt, Upper Austria, Austria
9.5 x 6.5 x 4.8 cm.
Here we have a sculptural example from a location that is noted for its carmel-colored specimens of the mineral Gypsum. This piece appears to be a floater, with the bottom of the specimen featuring many flat-lying crystals. Although several of the crystals have edge wear on their terminations, this specimen to me is quite interesting and a great locality piece.
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Q-205 Quartz with Epidote $40
Forno Glacier, Formazza Valley, Piedmont, Italy
9.5 x 4.5 x 5 cm.
Here we present a specimen from the Alpine regions of Italy. This specimen features many well-formed, clear Quartz crystals on a bed of deep green Epidote, which makes for a nice association piece.
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G-057 Garnet variety Andradite $30
Stanley Butte, Pinaleño Mts, Graham County, Arizona
3 x 3 x 2 cm.
An excellent cluster of well crystallized, greenish-brown Andradite Garnet crystals measuring up to 1.2 centimeters. The crystals on this specimen show a slight iridescence. This Garnet specimen was extremely hard to photograph and looks much, much more attractive in person.
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Q-127 Rose Quartz $45
Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
4.5 x 4.8 x 1.9 cm.
A fine miniature specimen of lustrous Rose Quartz crystals up to 2 cm. in size. The upper portion of the specimen is quite clear. This specimen is contacted on the rear, and I have adjusted the price accordingly to reflect this.
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E-014 Epidote $25
Pampa Blanca, Ica Department, Peru
4.3 x 3.1 x 1.3 cm.
A very deep, deep green cluster of slightly curved, fan-shaped Epidote crystals. These Peruvian Epidote specimens sparked quite a sensation when they appeared on the market in the mid-1990's. As of late though, these have become very hard to find.
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E-015 Epidote $30
Pampa Blanca, Ica Department, Peru
4.5 x 1.9 x 1.1 cm.
A deep green cluster of column-like Epidote crystals. These Peruvian Epidote specimens sparked quite a sensation when they appeared on the market in the mid-1990's. As of late though, these have become very hard to find.
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Q-232 Amethyst with Hematite inclusions on Calcite $50
Hidden Treasures Mine, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada
9 x 4.5 x 5 cm.
This specimen of Hematite-included Amethyst on Calcite hails from the world famous Amethyst mines of the Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. Amethyst specimens such as this one have been held in high regard by collectors for many, many years and rightly so. Collecting at Thunder Bay is extremely difficult, but the beauty of these specimens makes it all the more worthwhile. In my opinion, Amethyst from Thunder Bay ranks among the world's best. Despite being included by Hematite, this specimen possesses a deep color and a great luster. I think that this relatively new mine (work there started around September-October of 2009) has great potential based on the specimens that I have seen so far. Also, it is one of the few mines from that district that is producing Amethyst with accessory minerals such as Barite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite.
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Q-078 Quartz with Chlorite inclusions SOLD
Diamantina, Brazil
12.6 x 9.9 x 6.5 cm.
This included Quartz crystal features multicolored Chlorite inclusions which remind me of looking into an aquarium. This specimen has much more depth to it than appears in the photos, and has to be seen in person to be appreciated. This crystal has twin terminations with a small contact and is in excellent shape except for a miniscule ding which is hardly visible.
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C-052 Barite on Calcite $50
Moscona Mine, Solís, Gijón, Asturias, Spain
11 x 6 x 6 cm.
An attractive Matrix specimen of Calcite crystals featuring a large Calcite crystal and may smaller Calcite crystals covered with Barite crystals to 1 centimeter that looks far better in person than it does in this photograph.
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P-021 Pyromorphite $30
Daoping Mine, Guilin, Guangxi, China
3.6 x 2.6 x 1.6 cm.
A cute little toenail-sized specimen of Pyromorphite. Decent looking specimens from this location are very difficult to find these days.
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Q-042 Smoky Quartz with clay inclusions $45
Govenador Valadares, Brazil
8 x 5.5 x 4.1 cm.
A very lustrous Smoky Quartz crystal with inclusions of clay. It looks much, much better in person.
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T-130 Tourmaline
variety Elbaite $25
(double-terminated)
Darre Pech, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan
2.2 x 1.3 x 1.2 cm.
This specimen is a good example of the diversity of Tourmalines that can be found in Afghanistan. This bicolored Tourmaline crystal exhibits a cat's-eye like chatoyance and is double-terminated.
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C-127 Calcite with Hematite $50
Florence Mine, Egremont, Cumberland, Cumbria, England SOLD
13 x 10.3 x 3 cm.
A lustrous plate of Hematite-stained Calcite crystals from a classic English mineral locality. One of the features of this specimen is that there is just enough Hematite coating the Calcite crystals to lend them a colorful iridescence. Amazingly, even with the Hematite staining, this Calcite specimen shows a bright vermillion-colored fluorescence under SWUV light.
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T-126 Dravite $30
Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico
5 x 4 x 2 cm.
This triangular cluster of Dravite crystals exhibits a very lustrous, velvet-like sheen, and in fact is sometimes referred to as velvet Tourmaline. Once abundant in the old days, these striking crystals of Dravite are not easy to find these days. This Dravite specimen would be a fine addition to any collection.
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C-091 Calcite on Dolomite $25
La Florida Mine, Puentenansa, Cantabria, Spain
7.2 x 5 x 3.5 cm.
This two-faced specimen features a mound of Calcite crystals perched on a matrix of light pink Dolomite that is dusted on the front with minute crystals of black Sphalerite and drusy Quartz. The rear of the specimen features many Calcite and Pyrite crystals atop well-formed Dolomite crystals. The Calcite crystals on this mineral specimen fluoresce a mild orange color when illuminated with shortwave ultraviolet light.
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