MMX1 Quartz var. Amethyst

Amatitlan, Guererro, Mexico
11.2x 8.5x 4.3 cm

$800

Ex. Robert Nowakowski
 

A classic specimen from the 1980's, this impressive specimen measures over 11 cm from tip to tip.  This piece has excellent clarity and color, and even has a few clearly defined phantoms.

This piece comes from the Robert Nowakowski collection.  According to him, this piece was selected from a large lot sometime in the late 1980's.  Only one of the side crystals is missing a termination, as visible in the photographs.

With the correct lighting, this specimen really lights up, and will stand out in a display cabinet.  Personally, I prefer the classic Amatitlan specimens to the contemporary pieces from Veracruz.  I find that the color tends to be deeper, and the gradual tapering of the crystals gives these specimens from Amatitlan a more distinguished look.

MMX2 Cerussite, Duftite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia 
9.6x 8.5x 3.6 cm

$385
 

A large cabinet specimen from Tsumeb, hosting numerous white cerussites on contrasting green duftite.  The main twin, visible in the close up, is damage free and very sharp.  Several of the others have an interesting melted look, as visible in the last photograph.  There is a bit of damage here and there, but it gets lost in the forest of green and white.  

There is also a bit of yellow mimetite on the bottom right, and on the reverse.

MMX3 Serandite, Analcime, Natrolite, Rhodochrosite
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville Co., Québec, Canada
7.6x 2.8x 2.1 cm

$400

A cluster of bladed, pastel colored serandite crystals, which likely dates to the 1980's.  The serandite blades are intergrown with several analcime crystals, to 3 cm, and occur with numerous smaller natrolite crystals.  Also on the specimen is a chain of rhodochrosite, visible in the bottom close-up.

Specimens of this size are exceedingly hard to come by in any quality.  The association of four different mineral species from this classic North American locality makes for a beautiful cabinet specimen, of a sort rarely encountered today, particularly as quarrying has largely ceased due to financial concerns.

MMX4 Bournonite, Sphalrite
Les Malines Mine, Saint-Laurent-le-Minier, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
6.0x 5.0x 4.6 cm

$375

An excellent FRENCH bournonite, hosting a complete "cogwheel" on matrix with sphalerite.  There is absolutely no damage to the piece, and the crystal even stands out a bit from the matrix (see image of backside, below the text)

Today, virtually all the bournonite on the market comes from one of two places: the Yaogangxian Mine in China, or Bolivia.  From time to time, expensive English classics also pop up, but these French specimens remain elusive.  This piece likely dates tot he 1990's, when the locality was reworked.

Better in person!

MMX5 Dioptase 
Tantara, Reneville Region, Republic of Congo
4.7x 4.1x 2.3 cm

$250

A beautiful dioptase specimen, from the Republic of Congo.  This is not the same country famous for uranium secondaries and malachite, but rather its neighbor to the west.

Dioptase from this locality is known for its large crystals, and this piece is no exception: the largest crystal measures 1.5 cm.  These are quite a bargain compared to similar specimens from other localities: comparable pieces from Tsumeb (when you can find them) retail for may times more. These Congolese specimens give a lot of bang for the buck.

All in all, this is a beautiful large miniature, composed almost entirely of dioptase.

MMX6 Cobaltite 
Hakansboda, Lindesberg, Västmanland, Sweden
4.8x 4.5x 4.3 cm

$300

A large cobaltite crystal, frozen in a chalcopyrite matrix, from a classic locality.  These specimens are very hard to obtain, much more so than the Canadian cobaltites which pop up every now and then.  Plus, this one is priced at about half what you will find anywhere else online.

MMX7 Cobaltite 
Hakansboda, Lindesberg, Västmanland, Sweden
5.4x 4.5x 4.3 cm

$280

A large cubic cobaltite crystal, frozen in a chalcopyrite matrix, from a classic locality.  These specimens are very hard to obtain, much more so than the Canadian cobaltites which pop up every now and then.  Plus, this one is priced at about half what you will find anywhere else online.

MMX8 Silver
Homestake Claim, Creede Dist., Mineral Co., Colorado, United States 
4.6x 4.0x 3.0 cm

$285

A classic specimen, with numerous silver wires on a matrix of either acanthite or tennanite.  Colorado silvers are very rare, and this is even more true of matrix specimens.  This piece is particularly rich too, with the center of the specimen richly covered with silver wires.  There are a few stray wires elsewhere on the specimen as well, visible in some of the many nooks and crannies.

MMX9 Silver 
Uchucchacua Mine, Lima Dept., Oyon Prov., Peru
3.4x 1.8x 3.0 cm

$85

A beautiful little "toenail" specimen, with a few thick silver wires on top of their matrix.

MMX10 Dioptase 
Cobre Llama Mine, Nazca, Ica Dept, Peru
5.8x 3.5x 1.7 cm

$120

A beautiful miniature specimen, from a find made around 2-3 years ago.  These dioptase specimens are notable for the attractive contrast between the dioptase, and chrysocolla also present on the matrix.  This is a choice specimen from the find, rich and with larger crystals than most others. 

MMX11 Fluorite 
Huayllapon Mine, Pasto Bueno District, Pallasca Province, Ancash Department, Peru
7.0x 5.3x 4.5 cm

$200

Despite the abundance of Peruvian sulfides, fluorite from that country remains scarce.  This is a cabinet specimen, hosting a single complex crystal measuring 3.1 cm.  When viewed head on, the color of the crystal is closest to that of the image at right:  it is mostly greenish, with a faintly pink rind.

Of course, the color does vary a bit with viewing angle, ranging between what is seen in the photograph at right, and what is seen below. 

MMX12 Calcite with Duftite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia 
8.5x 6.4x 4.1 cm

$160
 

Of the many combinations from Tsumeb, this is easily among the most recognizable.  This specimen is a large cabinet, and has numerous white calcite rhombs, some coated with microcrystalline duftite.  There is one cleave on the lower right, as visible in the photographs. 

MMX13 Calcite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia 
5.2x 4.4x 3.5 cm

$85
 

A beautiful Tsumeb calcite, with a couple water clear rhombs on a matrix coated with thousands of smaller crystals. 

MMX14 Malachite ps. Azurite

New Cornelia Mine, Ajo, Pima Co., Arizona, United States 
4.7x 3.4x 2.7 cm

$88
 

A classic miniature specimen, hosting several azurite crystals that have completely pseudomorphed to malachite.  There are a couple little scuffs around the edges, as visible in the photographs.

MMX15 Galena

Pitcher, Oklahoma, United States 
10.4x 6.5x 3.1 cm

$140
 

A classic cabinet specimen from the Tri-State District.  There is no damage to the piece, and the crystals are all razor sharp. 

MMX23 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

MMX24 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

MMX16 Siderite, Quartz

Morro Velho Gold Mine, Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil 
7.4x 4.3x 2.8 cm

$165
 

In the 1970's and 1980's, the Morro Velho Gold Mine produced some of the finest siderite recovered up until that time.  Today, although scarce, these classics are still considered to be among the finest of their species.  This is a cabinet specimen, composed of numerous siderite disks and rhomb.  Some are coated with pyrite, and there is a minor quartz association. 

Towards the right side of the specimen, you can see the some of the translucent, honey colored siderite that made this find famous.  Much more three dimensional in person!

MMX17 Pyrite

Racracancha Mine, Tinyahuarco Dist., Pasco Prov., Cerro De Pasco Dept., Peru.
6.2x 3.5x 2.6 cm

$120
 

A usually do not sell pyrite, but this small cabinet stood out.  Apart from some minor edge wear, this specimen is about as close to damage free as these things get.  That's pretty remarkable, given the way such specimens get beaten up, first by the miners, then by the "piriteros" or pyrite vendors who don't usually care much about small chips and nicks.

The crystals are all striated, as is common for specimens from this location.  It also differentiates them from the abundant Spanish and Chinese specimens.

MMX18 Chlorite ps. Garnet 
Michigamme, Marquette iron range, Marquette Co., Michigan, USA

3.6x 3.1x 2.4 cm

$75

A classic specimen from Michigan, this piece consists of a large garnet crystal that has been completely replaced by chlorite.  The crystal is aesthetically perched on a slate matrix, and impressively enough, has retained its sharp edges and smooth faces.

These things rarely come up for sale, and are an example of the many interesting things to come from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

More than that, this and the following example are considerably better looking than most of the others I have seen in the past-- the size and position of the matrix really adds a lot to the specimens.

MMX19 Chlorite ps. Garnet 
Michigamme, Marquette iron range, Marquette Co., Michigan, USA
3.4x 2.7x 2.1 cm

$45

A classic specimen from Michigan, this piece consists of a large garnet crystal that has been completely replaced by chlorite.  The crystal is aesthetically perched on a slate matrix, and impressively enough, has retained its sharp edges.

These things rarely come up for sale, and are an example of the many interesting things to come from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

More than that, this and the above example are considerably better looking than most of the others I have seen in the past-- the size and position of the matrix really adds a lot to the specimens.

MMX20 Copper in Calcite 

Quincy Mine, Hancock, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, United States
3.3x 3.2x 2.4 cm

$135

A classic specimen from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  This crystal is terminated, and has a second double terminated crystal perched on its edge.  Bright flashes of copper are visible throughout the specimen, and a little is even present outside of the calcite.  There are a couple little bruises here and there, but as the pictures show this hardly detracts from the overall appearance.  There is a small number painted onto the bottom, likely the result of time spent in an old collection.

MMX21 Benitoite 
Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California, United States
3.3x 2.4x 1.6 cm

A nice "toenail" specimen, with a couple terminated benitoites, the largest measuring about 1.15 cm at its widest point. There is a tiny chip on the termination that becomes visible under magnification, but this piece is still miles ahead of the junk being etched out of mine gravel these days.

MMX22 Boleite 
Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico
0.65x 0.6x 0.6 cm  

$40

A deep blue boleite cube from the closed type locality.  Boleite has been found elsewhere, but those form Mexico are by far the best.  This cube is particularly sharp, and is of a pretty good size.

Please note that the given measurements are for the edge lengths, NOT the diagonal.  

I hate it when I see cubic minerals for sale, and then I have to divide by the square root of two just to figure out approximately how big the crystal is....