BLP1 Ludlamite

Huanuni Mine, Oruro, Bolivia

11.6x 6.1x 7.4 cm

$1400

An exceptional cabinet ludlamite, with the main crystal group measuring 2.1 cm across, and several other crystal groups scattered about the matrix.  

This is one of the best ludlamites I have seen in a long time.  The specimen is very well balanced, with the crystal cluster positioned centrally on its matrix.  The beautiful green of the ludlamite contrasts nicely with the pyrite and wavellite on the matrix.

Good ludlamite has only come from a few localities worldwide- Rapid Creek in the Yukon, Lemhi Co. in Idaho, Santa Eualia in Mexico, and Huanuni.  None have produced good ludlamites in years (ludlamite has not been found at Huanuni for 6-7 years now.)

Even when this material was being found, pieces of this caliber were never common. 

BLP2 Acanthite

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

4.2x 2.4x 1.1 cm

This is one the best Bolivian acanthites I have seen for sale.  The few other speicmens that I have seen from this mine have been considerably smaller, and the crystals are not as well developed.

The mines at Porco have operated since at least the late 1500's, and were among the the primary sources of Spain's silver for hundreds of years.  The site was also known to the Incas, who took control of the area sometime between 1493 and 1527.

For all the ore that the Porco mines have produced over the centuries, remarkably few specimens exist from the mine.  In fact, it seems that it is easier to obtain antique Spanish coinage minted from Bolivian silver than it is to obtain raw specimens, even though the mine operates to this day. 

This is a spectacular specimen from a historic locality, and is the sort of thing that only comes up for sale every several years at best.

BLP3 Silver on Acanthite

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

4.2x 2.4x 1.1 cm

$685

(From my personal collection)

This is a spectacular specimen for the locality, a rather thick silver wire on an acanthite matrix, certainly one of the best (and very few) matrix wires I've seen for sale from the locality.

The mines at Porco have operated since the 1500's, and were among the the primary sources of Spain's silver for hundreds of years.

For all the ore that Porco has produced over the centuries, remarkably few specimens exist from the mine.  In fact, it seems that it is easier to obtain antique Spanish coinage minted from Bolivian silver than it is to obtain raw specimens, even though the mine operates to this day.    

All in all, this is an excellent specimen from a historic locality.

IDM4 Wavellite on Quartz

Siglo XX Mine, near Llallagua, Bolivia

BLP4 Silver on Acanthite

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

5.1x 2.6x 1.2 cm

$235

This is a larger than average specimen from the mine, with numerous small silver wires on an acanthite matrix.  This is an example of the more typical habit of silver/ acanthite habit encountered at Porco.

The mines at Porco have operated since the 1500's, and were among the the primary sources of Spain's silver for hundreds of years.

For all the ore it has produced over the centuries, remarkably few specimens exist from the mine.  In fact, it seems that it is easier to obtain antique Spanish coinage minted from Bolivian silver than it is to obtain raw specimens, even though the mine operates to this day.

BLP5 Vauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llallagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia (1970's)

4.3x 2.7x .5 cm

$330

A rich, deep blue vauxite that dates to the 1970's, if not slightly earlier.  This specimen comes from an old collection, and the color is actually a bit darker blue than what the photographs depict.

As is typical of vauxite specimens, particularly those from this time period, this piece is a plate composed of globular clusters.

Contemporary specimens tend to be lighter (see following specimens)

This is a top miniature, whose combination of size and color make for a highly desirable specimen, of a sort rarely encountered today.

Vauxite has been found in many parts of the Siglo XX mine, and the varying habits illustrated on this page span a range of vauxite finds, dating from the 1970's to 2008. 

BLP6 Vauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia (2008)

2.0x 1.6x 1.4 cm

$150

A thumbnail vauxite specimen, with a globular cluster on a scrap of white hedyphane. 

This specimen is a much darker blue than the average vauxite (and with better, deeper color than the photographs show). Most contemporary specimens tend to be lighter. 

Truely a top thumbnail, and a beautiful example of the species.  Collected by Alfredo Petrov.

BLP7 Vauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

2.6x 1.8x .9 cm

$85

A beautiful thumbnail cluster of vauxite, from the finds of the past few years. 

A rare and interesting specimen, from a classic locality that was recently the subject on an entire issue of the Mineralogical Record.

BLP8 Vauxite, Paravauxite, Metavauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia (2007)

4.1x 3.1x 2.1 cm

$125

A miniature specimen from the find of 2007. Although the primary species present is blue vauxite, the other two vauxite species, paravauxite and metavauxite are also present as paler, microscopic crystals.

BLP9 Vauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia (2006)

8.3x 6.2x 1.7 cm

$165

A cabinet vauxite/ paravauxite specimen from a find made in 2006.  Vauxite has been found in many parts of the Siglo XX mine, and the varying habits illustrated on this page span a range of vauxite finds, dating from the 1970's to 2007. 

BLP10 Siderite

Machacamarca District (Colavi District), Saavedra Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

10.1x 7.1x 4.0 cm

$200

A cabinet specimen from a new find, this piece contains multiple lustrous siderite disks on a matrix of bright pyrite crystals.

BLP11 Vivianite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

6.9x 4.5x 2.7 cm

$185

A cabinet vivianite specimen from the Lallagua Mine.  Vivianite specimens from Llallagua are far less common than those from the Tomokoni Adit, which produced virtually all the specimens seen for sale today.

Unlike specimens from Tomokoni, which occur on sandstone, this specimen has a nicely contrasting siderite matrix.  A very beautiful specimen, from a classic locality that was recently the subject on an entire issue of the Mineralogical Record.

BLP11 Childrenite

BLP12 Danburite on Talc

Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia

3.3x 2.9x 2.9 cm

$90

A miniature specimen, with a large  crystal on a talc matrix.  The bluish-gray color comes from inclusions of magnesioriebeckite.

BLP13 Danburite on Talc

Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia

6.3x 5.2x 2.4 cm

$150

A cabinet specimen, with a perfect, double terminated danburite on a talc matrix.  The bluish-gray color comes from inclusions of magnesioriebeckite.

BLP14 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

5.6x 2.8x 1.4 cm

$225

A rare large miniature specimen of Franckeite from Bolivia.  Thumbnails turn up from time to time, but specimens larger than 3 cm are not common.  This specimen is pure franckeite, with hundreds of crystals of the rare mineral on a matrix of massive franckeite.

As a side note, the Itos mine works the same orebody as the more famous San Jose mine (known for the andorite, metastibnite, etc.)

This mine is on the same large hill as the San Jose, only it works the orebody from the other side.  As operations at the San Jose wind down, those at Itos have been ramping up.

BLP15 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

4.5x 2.8x 2.6 cm

$200

A rare large miniature specimen of Franckeite from Bolivia.  

This piece shows a couple beautiful star-like clusters of the mineral, making for a rather beautiful specimen (for the species.)

Thumbnails turn up from time to time, but specimens larger than 3 cm are not common.  This specimen is pure franckeite, with hundreds of crystals of the rare mineral on a matrix of massive franckeite.

As a side note, the Itos mine works the same orebody as the more famous San Jose mine (known for the andorite, metastibnite, etc.)

This mine is on the same large hill as the San Jose, only it works the mine from the other side.  As operations at the San Jose wind down, those at Itos have been ramping up.

BLP16 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

4.1x 3.2x 3.0 cm

$185

A perfect "floater" miniature of franckeite with absolutely no damage, comprised of numerous globular clusters.

MUCH better in person, the 3-D nature of the piece makes it impossible to focus the camera well.

BLP17 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

3.0x 2.0x 1.5 cm

$95

A perfect "floater" toenail of franckeite with absolutely no damage, comprised of three globular clusters.

BLP18 Ludlamite

BLP19 Quartz

Viloco Mine, Loayza Province, La Paz, Department, Bolivia.

6.0x 6.1x 4.6 cm

$165

I don't often purchase quartz, but these smokey quartz specimens from Viloco appealed to me.  All the crystals have dark phantoms, and light terminations.  

Viloco is the locality better known for producing some of the world's best cassiterite specimens.

BLP20 Bismuthinite

Tazna, Veta Farellón Viejo, Potosí  Bolivia

9.2x 6.8x 1.8 cm

$360

Bismuthinite is not often seen for sale, and those that do come to market tend to look like those further down on the page.   This one however, has larger, terminated crystals.  I was only able to obtain two specimens like this one

It is flat on the reverse.

BLP21 Quartz var. Amethyst

Aki Salla, Potosi Dist., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

6.3x 3.4x 2.5 cm

$165

This is the best from a very small and select lot of Bolivian amethyst specimens. 

These crystals should not be confused with those from the more famous Anahi Mine, located in the Amazonian east of the country.  That mine is notable for producing ametrine and clusters of amethyst reaching 2-3 feet across.

The Aki Salla locality (southwestern Bolivia) produces smaller crystals, often sceptered and slightly lighter in color.  By the standards of that mine, this is one of the better specimens.

BLP22 Quartz var. Amethyst

Aki Salla, Potosi Dist., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

4.4x 2.9x 3.1 cm

$135

This is a beautiful miniature specimen for the locality, a cluster of light amethyst points facing forwards and sideways, with a single, larger crystal pointing upwards.  This is my favorite amethyst from the group.

These crystals should not be confused with those from the more famous Anahi Mine, located in the Amazonian east of the country.  That mine is notable for producing ametrine and clusters of amethyst reaching 2-3 feet across.

The Aki Salla locality (southwestern Bolivia) produces smaller crystals, often sceptered and slightly lighter in color.  By the standards of that mine, this is one of the better specimens.

BLP23 Quartz var. Amethyst

Aki Salla, Potosi Dist., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

5.1x 3.5x 3.1 cm

$130

This is the best from a very small and select lot of Bolivian amethyst specimens. 

These crystals should not be confused with those from the more famous Anahi Mine, located in the Amazonian east of the country.  That mine is notable for producing ametrine and clusters of amethyst reaching 2-3 feet across.

The Aki Salla locality (southwestern Bolivia) produces smaller crystals, often sceptered and slightly lighter in color.  By the standards of that mine, this is one of the better specimens.

BLP24 Quartz var. Amethyst

Aki Salla, Potosi Dist., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

6.2x 5.2x 2.1 cm

$135

This is the best from a very small and select lot of Bolivian amethyst specimens. 

These crystals should not be confused with those from the more famous Anahi Mine, located in the Amazonian east of the country.  That mine is notable for producing ametrine and clusters of amethyst reaching 2-3 feet across.

The Aki Salla locality (southwestern Bolivia) produces smaller crystals, often sceptered and slightly lighter in color.  By the standards of that mine, this is one of the better specimens.

BLP25 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

5.7x 3.8x 1.4 cm

$145

A rare specimen of cronstedtite from the Llallagua Mine.  I purchased these from a miner at the locality in 2008.  This is a very rich example of this serpentine group species, something that really does not turn up often.

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania.  As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.

BLP26 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

4.5x 3.8x 3.4 cm

$145

A rare specimen of cronstedtite from the Llallagua Mine.  I purchased these from a miner at the locality in 2008.  This is a very rich example of this serpentine group species, something that really does not turn up often.

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania.  As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.

BLP27 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

5.3x 2.5x 1.7 cm

$90

A rare specimen of cronstedtite from the Llallagua Mine.  I purchased these from a miner at the locality in 2008.  This is a very rich example of this serpentine group species, something that really does not turn up often.

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania.  As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.

BLP28 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

3.2x 2.2x 1.5 cm

$90

A rare specimen of cronstedtite from the Llallagua Mine.  I purchased these from a miner at the locality in 2008.  This is a very rich example of this serpentine group species, something that really does not turn up often.

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania.  As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.

Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

2.1x 0.9x 1.1 cm

$175

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite crystals, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional defenition.

Stephanite is really only availabe from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP30 Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

2.5x 1.3x 1.0 cm

$165

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional defenition.

Stephanite is really only available from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP31 Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.9x 1.9x 1.8 cm

$160

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional defenition.

Stephanite is really only availabe from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP32 Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.9x 1.3x 0.8 cm

$145

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional definition.

This crystal does have some contacting on one side, as visible in the pictures.

Stephanite is really only availabe from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP33 Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.3x 1.3x 0.7 cm

$110

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional defenition.

Stephanite is really only availabe from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP34 Stephanite New Find!

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.7x 1.0x 0.9 cm

$150

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.

Stephanite is really only availabe from a few localites in Germany, Czechoslovacia, Mexico, and Canada, and is ALWAYS expensive.  Thumbnails like this from any of those localities would be priced anywhere from $300 for a Mexican specimen, all the way to somewhere in the 4 figures for a German or Czech piece.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

BLP35 Bournonite, Siderite

Viboras Mine, Machacamarca Dist., Saavedra Prov., Potosí Dept., Bolivia

2.7x 2.0x 1.7 cm

$135

A superb thumbnail of bournonite with siderite from Bolivila.  These days a decent amount of Bournonite is coming out of the Yaogangxian Mine in China, but specimens like this one from Bolivia are classics.

This is a top thumbnail, with a dark gray bournonite crystal aesthetically perched on a matrix shared by a few siderite disks.

BLP36 Bournonite, Siderite

Viboras Mine, Machacamarca Dist., Saavedra Prov., Potosí Dept., Bolivia

3.3x 3.3x 3.0 cm

$140

A nice miniature specimen, with a perfect steel gray bournonite cogwheel on matrix.

Before the recent finds at Yaogangxian, Bolivian bournonites were considered to be among the world's best.

BLP37 Bournonite, Siderite, Pyrite

Viboras Mine, Machacamarca Dist., Saavedra Prov., Potosí Dept., Bolivia

4.9x 4.7x 2.6 cm

$225

A large, steel gray bournonite cogwhel framed and backed by siderite and pyrite.

Before the recent finds at Yaogangxian, Bolivian bournonites were considered to be among the world's best.

BLP38 Bournonite, Siderite

Viboras Mine, Machacamarca Dist., Saavedra Prov., Potosí Dept., Bolivia

5.5x 4.0x 2.5 cm

$170

A perfect crystal of bournonite perched on the edge of its matrix, standing perpendicularly up from it.

Before the recent finds at Yaogangxian, Bolivian bournonites were considered to be among the world's best.