BOL00 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

15.3x 7.7x 10.1 cm

$2300

Largest crystal: 0.7 cm.

A large cabinet specimen of boleite.  The majority of boleite crystals are found in clay, meaning that the crystals fall of easily, and few matrix specimens ever make it to market.

Specimens with multiple crystals are therefore exceedingly rare, as are specimens with solid (not clay) matrixes. 

This piece is richly covered with blue boleite cubes, the largest (0.7 cm) visible towards to the bottom of the specimen.  What is more, the solid matrix, with its blady crystals of (anglesite?) and contrasting oxides, makes for a particularly aesthetic specimen.

Pieces like this, of this size, quality, and richness do not come up for sale often.

BOL01 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

8.9x 7.0x 6.8 cm

Largest crystal: 0.55 cm

$700

A large cabinet specimen of boleite.  The majority of boleite crystals are found in clay, meaning that the crystals fall of easily, and few matrix specimens ever made it to market.

Matrix specimens are therefore exceedingly rare, and that is particularly the case of specimens boasting multiple crystals.

BOL02 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

8.5x 5.8x 4.0 cm

$600

A large cabinet specimen of boleite.  The majority of boleite crystals are found in clay, meaning that the crystals fall of easily, and few matrix specimens ever made it to market.

Matrix specimens are therefore exceedingly rare, and that is particularly the case of specimens boasting multiple crystals.

BOL03 Cumengeite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

8.3x 5.9x 3.9 cm

Largest crystal: 0.75 cm

$900

Here is a large cabinet specimen, hosting two MATRIX cumengeite crystals from the type locality.  Matrix cumengeite specimens rarely come to market, as most reside in private collections or museums. 

Both the crystals are untwinned, and complete.  Untwinned crystals are rarer than the familiar "star shaped" clusters, which actually consist of 6 cumengeite crystals attached to each face of a boleite cube.  Even more unusual, is the fact that there are two crystals on the specimen, reaching .75 cm.

BOL04 Cumengeite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

7.5x 3.1x 2.7 cm

Largest crystal: 0.7 cm

$400

A rare MATRIX specimen of pale blue. nearly white cumengeite from the type locality.  Cumengite is nearly impossible to obtain today in any form, and those on matrix are particularly rare, given that the clay matrix almost clways crumbled during or after specimen recovery.  This matrix has been stabilized, so there is no danger of that.

 Untwinned crystals are rarer than the familiar "star shaped" clusters, which actually consist of 6 cumengeite crystals attached to each face of a boleite cube. 

BOL05 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

8.1x 6.6x 4.4 cm

$485

A large cabinet specimen of boleite.  The majority of boleite crystals are found in clay, meaning that the crystals fall of easily, and few matrix specimens ever make it to market.

Specimens with multiple crystals are therefore exceedingly rare, as are specimens with solid (not clay) matrixes. 

This specimen has multiple sharp, deep blue crystals on a nicely contrasting matrix that differs from the usual orange clay.

BOL06 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

4.3x 3.2x 2.6 cm

$175

A large cabinet specimen of boleite.  The majority of boleite crystals are found in clay, meaning that the crystals fall of easily, and few matrix specimens ever made it to market.

Matrix specimens are therefore exceedingly rare, and that is particularly the case of specimens boasting multiple crystals.

BOL07 Cumengeite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

0.6x 0.4x 0.4 cm

$135

A stunning Pakistani aqua, with a mostly flawless, water-clear crystal rising dramatically from its matrix.  The crystal has very good color.  This xtl is from a pocket that was discovered in October of 2005. Compared to ot

BOL08 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

0.75x 0.7x 0.6 cm

$150

This was one of the obscure new finds from this year's Tucson show, though one which I consider to be among the most significant of the show.  This is the best single crystal that was available.  The specimen consists of a boleite cube with pseudoboleite that has been completely replaced by chrysocolla.

We have all seen the deep blue boleite cubes that have been around for years, but these specimens are from a limited new find, and this one is among the best single crystals recovered.  In many of the others, the pseudomorphing is not as clear.

BOL09 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

2.4x 2.0x 0.9 cm

This was one of the obscure new finds from this year's Tucson show, though one which I consider to be among the most significant of the show.  This  specimen consists of a cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla.

This is a very interesting piece, and a beautiful thumbnail from this small find.

BOL10 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

2.9x 2.4x 1.5 cm

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

This is among my favorite of the thumbnails I acquired.  It has large, distinct pseudomorphed crystals, which are complimented by a starburst of some white secondary mineral.

BOL11 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

5.2x 4.5x 3.6 cm

$275

A large miniature hosting a cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla.

This specimen is MUCH better in person. You can actually see the distinct crystals, of exceptional sharpness.  You can see part of a sharp cluster of pseudomorphs in the bottom right image, and then a single crystal in the bottom right image.

BOL12 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

4.2x 1.9x 3.1 cm

$170

A large miniature hosting a cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla.

The cubes are sharp, distinct, and contrast nicely with their matrix.

BOL13 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

6.8x 5.5x 3.1 cm

$180

A cluster of boleite crystals that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix and coated with another unidentified white mineral.

BOL14 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

4.6x 3.1x 3.4 cm

$345

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

This is one of the better specimens, in terms of richness, and for its sharp and distinct crystals.  The couple cubes that have been halved show the bright blue chrysocolla interiors that have replaced the boleite. 

BOL15 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

2.8x 2.4x 1.4 cm

$155

A cluster of sharp boleite crystals that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.