TXC1 Barite

Meikle Mine, Bootstrap District, Elko Co., Nevada, United States 

9.1x 6.8x 6.3 cm

$475

A large crystal of barite on matrix, from the famous find at the Meikle Mine.  These were recovered by the Collectors Edge between 1996 and 2000, and this specimen is accompanied by their label.

Specimens from this mine are considered to be among the finest American barites, along with those from Elk Creek, South Dakota and Stoneham, Colorado.  This particular crystal is quite large, undamaged, and shows good color.

The matrix consists of bladed calcite, creating a nice contrast between the darker crystal and the light matrix.

TXC3 Pyrite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

12.1x 11.0x 8.4 cm

$2500

A stunning large cabinet specimen, one of the two best from a lot of a few hundred.    

This specimen displays well from multiple angles, with exceptional 3-dimensionallity, sharpness, and a lack of damage.  There is a bit of contacting on the reverse, but as shown in the images, this piece displays well from several angles.

The arrangement of the crystals gives it a sort of sculptural appearance.

This specimen is easily in the top .0001% of material recovered from Huanzala.  A miner told me that these pieces are snuck out of the mine in rucksacks weighing as much as 50 kg.  Under such conditions, it is a minor miracle that any specimen can survive in such good condition.  

This mine has produced thousands of tones of specimen pyrite--most of the "fool's gold" clusters that you see for sale in various rock and gift shops originated from this mine.  Such low grade pieces are called "chispas" by the local miners.  Dodecahedrons are called "cocos" (coconuts) and cubes are called "cubos".  The rarest and most prized, "triangulos" are the octahedral crystals that are only recovered every few years at best.

TXC4 Garnet var. Spessartine, Smokey Quartz

Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

6.7x 5.0x 2.6 cm

$160

A miniature specimen of bright orange spessartine garnets on and around dark smokey quartz crystals; judging from the color of the quartz, this is from one of the earlier pockets.  

This "mine" is actually a hill composed mainly of granite.  Over the last few years, that hill has been carved up searching for specimens like this one, and at this point only a small portion of it remains.  The latest news from the site is that only a few mediocre specimens were found over the last several months of mining.  

Once the hill has been completely destroyed, there wont be any more of these... already it has become harder to find them, particularly with the (more sought after) darker quartz.

TXC5 Pyromorphite

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

2.2x 1.0x 0.7 cm

$165

A beautiful pyromorphite crystal from Les Farges.

The Les Farges mine produced stunning pyromorphites in the 1970's, predating the major finds at Bunker Hill, Cordoba, and Daoping.

Green crystals from this find are the most sought after; while this is not the brightest green that the mine produced, it is much rarer than the brownish yellow specimens that are usually seen.

This thumbnail also displays the pinacoid form so sought after by pyromorphite collectors and others.

TXC6 Berthierite

Herja Mine, Baia Mare, Maramures Co., Romania

10.9x 5.5x 6.0 cm             

$580

A beautiful example of the rare iron antimony sulfosalt berthierite, from the classic locality at Baia Sprie.

This is a cabinet specimen, composed of large, interlocking sprays of the mineral.

Herja produced the world best berthierite, and while never common, these days specimens are even more scarce given that many of the mines in the area are no longer being worked.

TXC7 Berthierite with Boulangerite 

Herja Mine, Baia Mare, Maramures Co., Romania

6.2x 4.5x 3.1 cm             

$385

A beautiful example of the rare iron antimony sulfosalt berthierite, from the classic locality at Baia Sprie.  This is a particularly aesthetic example oft he species, as it is combined with dark boulangerite balls.  Herja produced the world best berthierite, and while never common, these days specimens are even more scarce given that many of the mines in the area are no longer being worked.

TXC9 Beryl var. Emerald

Kagem Emerald Mine, Kafubu Emerald District, Ndola, Copperbelt Prov., Zambia

3.8x 2.1x 1.8 cm

$295

Among specimen collectors, Zambian emeralds were virtually unheard of until last year. Since the late 80's however, they have gained popularity as faceted gemstones, a process accelerated by Tiffany's.  The majority of Zambian emeralds are exported to Israel, where they are cut and then once again exported. 

Last year, Gemfields PLC contacted the Collector's Edge, and the ensuing partnership has since brought additional specimens to the market.

I obtained this piece from a cutter, so can offer it more cheaply than if I had bought it from a mineral dealer.  The crystal is not gemmy, but it is a good reference specimen from a find whose specimens have quite frankly been priced too high for the majority of collectors. This one displays good color and a decently sized crystal.

When I was slowly carving away the quartz matrix that surrounded the emerald, I made sure to leave a small layer over the top of the crystal, to show that the top was actually a natural fracture.

TXC11 Silver, Calcite

Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Prov., Lima Dept., Peru

4.3x 1.3x 1.0 cm

$165

Another silver specimen from Uchucchacua, this one a wire with numerous small calcite cystals perched on it.  This was from a small find made in mid-2009. Only a few specimens were found, this is one of them.

TXC12 Quartz  (Japan Law Twin)

Nuevo Mundo Mine, Pasto Bueno Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

6.7x 5.0x 1.6 cm

$170

A large Japan law twin quartz from recent finds at the Nuevo Mundo mine.  \

TXC13 Alabandite

Uchucchacua Mine, Lima Dept., Oyon Prov., Peru

4.2x 3.1x 3.0 cm             

$365

Alabandite is a very rare manganese sulfide; Uchucchacua produced the best specimens but unlike the (obviously valuable) rhodochrosites that the miners stash in their jackets and sneak out of the mine, the uglier alabandites just go to the crusher.

How often alabandite  is encountered in the mine is not known, but seeing good specimens for sale on the open market is exceedingly rare.  I have seen a couple pieces from Broken Hill, Australia for sale, but none had any well defined crystals.

The crystals on this thing are absolutely huge for the species, making this an exceptional specimen and a VERY rare opportunity to own an example of the mineral.

On many specimens, the ugly black Mn sulfides/oxides are usually overshadowed by their carbonate cousin, rhodochrosite, but not this time!

TXC14 Fluorite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

3.9x 2.4x 2.7 cm

$135

A very beautiful miniature specimen of fluorite on a sulfide matrix.  The flourite is a very light pink, and is undamaged.  It contrasts nicely with the dark sulfide matrix.  

TXC15 Quartz

Pasto Bueno, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

11.5x 3.9x 2.2 cm

I don't usually post quartz crystals, but I really liked this one.  It is composed primarily of two double terminated crystals, one clinging to the side of the other.  This is from a small pocket opened in 2009, and is a complete floater

TXC16 Rhodochrosite, Bournonite, Sphalerite

Huachocolpa Mine, Huancavelica Prov., Huancavelica Dept., Peru

4.9x 3.3x 1.6 cm

$180

A light pink rhodochrosite specimen from a recent find.  Most of these specimens had curly clusters of rhombs scattered over quartz matrixes.

This was the best piece from the find, composed entirely of rhodochrosite an with the best color.

TXC17 Pyrite (Stalactite)

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

6.9x 4.0x 3.7 cm

$185

A stalactite of dodecahedral pyrite crystals, from the world famous Huanzala mine.  The specimen is absolutely undamaged, and a beautiful example of material from this locality.

This piece can display from any angle, and is damage free all around.

TXC18 Pyrite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

6.3x 5.4x 5.3 cm

$200

We have all seen hundreds if not thousands of pyrite specimens.  Most of the Peruvian ones come from the Huanzala mine, where miners haul them out in 50 kg sacks.... that is exactly why it is so hard to find a good one: few are good to begin with, and of those most end up damaged or broken while being pulled out.

I visited the mine and looked through hundreds of specimens, virtually all were damaged.  I did however find a few very fine examples, 6 of which are posted on this page. 

The locals subdivide the pyrites into several categories: "chispas" are the low grade pieces you see for sale in various rock and gift shops Dodecahedrons are called "cocos" (coconuts) and cubes are called "cubos".  The rarest and most prized, "triangulos" are the octahedral crystals that are only recovered every few years at best.

This is a beautiful octahedral crystal, with minor barite.  There is a contact at the base, but all of the main crystals are intact-- something truly rare.

As you can see from the pictures, this means that it can be displayed from multiple angles.  

What I'm trying to say with all the lines above, is that this is NOT your ordinary pyrite.

TXC19 Pyrite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

6.1x 4.2x 3.7 cm

$235

We have all seen hundreds if not thousands of pyrite specimens.  Most of the Peruvian ones come from the Huanzala mine, where miners haul them out in 50 kg sacks.... that is exactly why it is so hard to find a good one: few are good to begin with, and of those most end up damaged or broken while being pulled out.

I visited the mine and looked through hundreds of specimens, virtually all were damaged.  I did however find a few very fine examples, 6 of which are posted on this page. 

The locals subdivide the pyrites into several categories: "chispas" are the low grade pieces you see for sale in various rock and gift shops Dodecahedrons are called "cocos" (coconuts) and cubes are called "cubos".  The rarest and most prized, "triangulos" are the octahedral crystals that are only recovered every few years at best.

This is a beautiful octahedral crystal, with minor barite.  There is a contact at the base, but all of the main crystals are intact-- something truly rare.

As you can see from the pictures, this means that it can be displayed from multiple angles.

What I'm trying to say with all the lines above, is that this is NOT your ordinary pyrite.

TXC20 Pyrite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

7.8x 4.8x 3.6 cm

$95

We have all seen hundreds if not thousands of pyrite specimens.  Most of the Peruvian ones come from the Huanzala mine, where miners haul them out in 50 kg sacks.... that is exactly why it is so hard to find a good one: few are good to begin with, and of those most end up damaged or broken while being pulled out.

I visited the mine and looked through hundreds of specimens, virtually all were damaged.  I did however find a few very fine examples, 6 of which are posted on this page. 

The locals subdivide the pyrites into several categories: "chispas" are the low grade pieces you see for sale in various rock and gift shops Dodecahedrons are called "cocos" (coconuts) and cubes are called "cubos".  The rarest and most prized, "triangulos" are the octahedral crystals that are only recovered every few years at best.

This is a beautiful cluster of octahedral crystals.  It is priced lower than the rest because it is contacted on the reverse, and only displays well from one side.

TXC21 Rhodonite

Chiuruc Mine, Huallanca Dist., Dos de Mayo Prov., Peru

2.0x 1.6x 1.1 cm

$100

A thumbnail of bright pink rhodonite from the find made a few years back at the Chiuruc Mine.  

This find represents the best rhodonite to come from Peru since the 1980's, and the rhodonites from this mine rank among the best from anywhere

TXC22 Rhodonite

Chiuruc Mine, Huallanca Dist., Dos de Mayo Prov., Peru

2.3x 1.3x 1.1 cm

$95

A thumbnail of bright pink rhodonite from the find made a few years back at the Chiuruc Mine.  

This find represents the best rhodonite to come from Peru since the 1980's, and the rhodonites from this mine rank among the best from anywhere

TXC23 Rhodonite

Chiuruc Mine, Huallanca Dist., Dos de Mayo Prov., Peru

2.6x 1.6x 0.8 cm

$100

A thumbnail of bright pink rhodonite from the find made a few years back at the Chiuruc Mine.  

This find represents the best rhodonite to come from Peru since the 1980's, and the rhodonites from this mine rank among the best from anywhere

TXC24 Rhodonite

Chiuruc Mine, Huallanca Dist., Dos de Mayo Prov., Peru

2.0x 1.5x 1.3 cm

$85

A thumbnail of bright pink rhodonite from the find made a few years back at the Chiuruc Mine.  

This find represents the best rhodonite to come from Peru since the 1980's, and the rhodonites from this mine rank among the best from anywhere. 

TXC25 Hemimorphite, Aurichalcite

Ghale Zari Mine, Birjand, South Khorasan Province, Iran

14.1x 7.4x 5.1 cm

$185

A large cabinet specimen of hemimorphite and aurichalcite from the Ghale Zari copper mine.  Needless to say, Iranian mineral are not very common on the market..

TXC26 Thorite 

Kempf Prospect., Cheddar, Ontario, Canada

5.0x 3.2x 2.3 cm             

$350

A large, sharp crystal of this rare and radioactive thorium silicate.  Until moving to the Midwestern United States, I had hardly seen any for sale, but thanks to a few local collectors I have been able to obtain specimens from time to time.

TXC27 Parisite Pseudomorph

Chilwa Alkaline Complex, Zomba, Malawi

4.1x 3.3x 2.8 cm             

$165

A large crystal of parisite from Zomba.  I am reasonably sure that it has been pseudomorphed by something else, which quite often the case for ex-parisite crystals from the locality.

TXC28 Parisite Pasudomorph

Mt. Malosa, Zomba, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi

3.3x 3.9x 3.4 cm             

$135

Another ex-parisite crystal from Malawi. This one is split down the middle, and has a quartz crystal growing in the crack.  The close-up image on the bottom right shows more evidence of pseudomorphing: you can see that in some places the surface is actually composed of radiating crystals of something else....

Specimens from this mine are usually just sold as parisite, but a brief examination will show that many have been pseudomorphed, hence the label of "Parisite Pseudomorph."  

Granted, it leaves some questions unanswered, but it is (ironically) more accurate than most of the other labels that these specimens receive.

TXC29 Parisite Pseudomorph

Mt. Malosa, Zomba, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi

4.0x 2.2x 1.9 cm             

$145

The third  parisite specimen in this update, this one from Malawi. This is a rather large crystal, that interestingly enough seems to be at least partially filled with epididymite (look at the bottom of the specimen, in the lower right image.)  As I stated in the description of the Snowbird Mine piece above, good parisite is only known from a few localities world wide, the best specimens coming from Mt. Malosa, Snowbird, Muzo, and Zagi.

TXC30 Loparite

N'orkpakhk Mountain, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Russia

6.7x 5.0x 3.8 cm             

$175

A specimen hosting a twinned loparite crystal on a matrix composed of various typical Kola minerals.

I'm guessing the red stuff is villiaumite, the green and white are anybody's guess (and I'm sure at least a few of you would be able to guess quite accurately...)

This mineral is not usually seen for sale online; every once in a while some Russian dealers have nice ones in Tucson-- some years there are none, some years they are bad, but this year there were some good ones.  I had been wanting to buy one for a while, but really didn't see one I liked until this one.

TXC31 Betafite

Silver Crater Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada

2.2x 1.8x 1.6 cm             

$135

A cluster of sharp betafite crystals from the locality that produced some of the world's best examples of the species. 

TXC32 Davidite

Billeroo, Plumbago Station, Olary Prov., South Australia, Australia

2.8x 2.6x 2.3 cm             

$135

A large, sharp crystal of this rare uranium mineral.  Contacted on the reverse

TXC33 Davidite

Billeroo, Plumbago Station, Olary Prov., South Australia, Australia

2.2x 1.6x 1.4 cm             

$100

A large crystal of this rare uranium mineral.  Contacted on the reverse

TXC34 Davidite

Billeroo, Plumbago Station, Olary Prov., South Australia, Australia

2.3x 2.2x 1.35 cm             

$125

A large crystal of this rare uranium mineral.  Contacted on the reverse

TXC35 Xenotime

Novo Hoizonte, Bahia, Brazil

3.3x 0.85x 0.6 cm             

$125

A rather large xenotime crystal from Brazil, perfectly terminated and seemingly twisted about its length (see the image at right)

TXC36 Millerite on Quartz

Biggsville, Henderson Co., Illinois, United States

3.6x 2.4x 2.4 cm             

$125

A very rich millerite speicmen from an unusual locality.  The millerite tuft stands out from a nicely contrasting quartz matrix.

This specimen was collected in 1978, and for its size is considerably richer than most of the others that I have seen from the midwestern US...usually they only contain a few strands of the mineral.

TXC38 Tuperssuatsiaite

Aris Quarries, Windhoek District., Khomas Region, Namibia

2.7x 2.3x 1.4 cm             

$88

A very rich thumbnail of this rare mineral, that usually requires a loupe or microscope to appreciate.

The type locality is in Greenland (the name actually comes from an Inuit word), but the best specimens have arguably  come from this Namibian locality.

The spray is pressed flat against the matrix.