BV1 Sigloite ps. Paravauxite 

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

17.6x 13.7x 2.4 cm

$1500

In 2006, miners at the Siglo XX (translation: Twentieth Century) Mine recovered some of the best paravauxites ever found.  This specimen is on the larger side of those recovered.

In addition to the green paravauxite, there is also sigloite. The two minerals differ chemically by a single water molecule.

These are no longer being found.  A miner had stashed a small quantity of these away, and I purchased them all.

BV2 Sigloite ps. Paravauxite 

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

14.9x 5.1x 3.2 cm

$495

In 2006, miners at the Siglo XX (translation: Twentieth Century) Mine recovered some of the best paravauxites ever found.  This specimen is on the larger side of those recovered.

In addition to the green paravauxite, there is also sigloite. The two minerals differ chemically by a single water molecule.

These are no longer being found.  A miner had stashed a small quantity of these away, and I purchased them all.

This piece is more three-dimensional than usual, and the crystals are less jumbled together.  It is my favorite piece from the group. 

BV3 Quartz

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

12.8x 9.1x 5.8 cm

$375

I don't often purchase quartz, but this smoky quartz from Viloco was quite exceptional.  All the crystals have dark phantoms, and light terminations.  

A very beautiful cabinet specimen, from a locality that is known more for its cassiterite.

ADB2 Vivianite

Tomokoni Mine, Saavedra Prov., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

9.6x 4.6x 4.9 cm

A large vivianite crystal, from the 2004 find at the Tomokoni Mine.  Unlike many of the earlier vivianites to come from the region, the Tomokoni specimens occurred on sandstone.  As you can see from the photographs, there is a chip on the end of the smaller, protruding crystal.  Contacted on the reverse, but otherwise displays perfectly.

BV4 Andorite with Jamesonite

San Jose mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

9.1x 5.1x 2.7 cm

$400

A very rare MATRIX specimen for andorite.  The crystal is complete, lustrous, and measures 2.1 cm.  The second aggregate may either be andorite or another sulfosalt.  Underneath the andorite is a mass of hairy jamesonite.

This is a very dramatic specimen, with the andorite perched aesthetically on the edge of its matrix.

SAA5 Andorite with Stannite

San Jose mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

4.5x 3.5x 2.0 cm

$485

This one was actually puchased in the US. You may remember the old stash of andorites that resurfaced about 2 years ago.

This specimen is unique in that its association with another rare sulfosalt (stannite), has actually improved the overall aesthetics of the piece.

BV5 Stibnite

La Paz Department, Bolivia.

14.5x 12.5x 4.23 cm

$685

So how often do you see Bolivian stibnites for sale?  This is an exceptional cabinet piece,  consisting of multiple sprays of stibnite, all intertwined.  I saw a few others, but those were mostly just solid masses.  This was the best.

BV6 Ferberite

Tasna Mine, Cerro Tasna, Atocha-Quechisla Dist., Nor Chichas Prov., Potosi Dept., Bolivia

5.4x 3.6x 1.9 cm

$185

A pair of sharply twinned ferberites.  The reverse is a flat cleaved surface, however it displays perfectly from the front.

BV7 Ferberite

Tasna Mine, Cerro Tasna, Atocha-Quechisla Dist., Nor Chichas Prov., Potosi Dept., Bolivia

5.8x 4.2x 3.1 cm

$385

A complete and damage free pair of twinned ferberites, aesthetically  intertwined with a pair of large, complete chalcopyrite crystals.  This is truly a stunning example of the association, and in my opinion sets this specimen apart from the many other twinned ferberites out there.

BV8 Native Bismuth

Vilaque River, La Paz Department, Bolivia.

4.15x 2.9x 1.35 cm

$185

A large bismuth nugget from the Vilaque river.  This is the largest one I could obtain, and it is (expectedly) heavier than it appears at first glance.  

BV9 Native Bismuth

Vilaque River, La Paz Department, Bolivia.

2.1x 1.5x 1.4 cm

$85

Although smaller than the previous piece, this one displays a definite crystal structure, and has not been weatherd to the same extent as the other 99% of the nuggets.

BV10 Boracite

Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.

5.2x 3.5x 3.4 cm

$235

Boracite is a very difficult mineral to obtain.  Along with the classic specimen from Germany and the UK, the pieces from Bolivia are amongst the best in the world.  I was fortunate to obtain a small lot of these crystals, all quite exceptional in richness and size.  This one stands out, even among those. Better in person.

BV11 Boracite

Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.

3.7x 2.9x 2.7 cm

$135

Boracite is a very difficult mineral to obtain.  Along with the classic specimen from Germany and the UK, the pieces from bolivia are amongst the best in the world.  I was fortunate to obtain a small lot of these crystals, all quite exceptional in richness and size. 

 This one is notable for the amount of boracite it has-- three larger crystals, and numerous smaller ones.

BV12 Bismuthinite

Tazna, Veta Farellón viejo, Potosí  Bolivia

6.8x 4.9x 4.2 cm

$450

Bismuthinite is not often seen for sale, and those that do come to market tend to look the the following specimen (BV13).  This one however, has larger, terminated crystals.  I was only able to obtain two specimens like this one, and this is the better of the two. 

BV13 Bismuthinite

Tazna, Veta Farellón viejo, Potosí  Bolivia

5.2x 4.1x 3.1 cm

$165

Another bismuthinite.  Although (relatively) more plentiful, even this habit is difficult to come by.  Ugly as hell, too....

BV14 Vauxite, Paravauxite, Sigloite

Siglo XX Mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia.

2.9x 2.0x 1.1 cm

$80

Although only a thumbnail, this piece showcases a very rare triple association: vauxite, paravauxite, and sigloite all on one piece.

EMH7 Vauxite

Siglo XX Mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia.

5.3x 4.2x 1.6 cm

$185

This piece was purchased in the US (there was almost none available in Bolivia).  This is a very rare small cabinet specimen composed almost entirely of crystalline vauxite from Bolivia.  This stuff is incredibly hard to get,   The thickness ranges from about 1.6 cm on the whiter side of the specimen, down to only a couple mm on the opposite end, giving it a wedge like appearance when viewed form the side.

SAA4 Ludlamite

Huanuni Mine, Oruro, Bolivia

3.1x 2.0x 1.8 cm

Another one also purchased in the US.  There was none of this available  in Bolivia, that I could find. A choice, and increasingly rare thumbnail of this mineral on siderite.  Next to no ludlamite has been recovered form this locality for the past few years, and this is a prime example of the species.

BV15 Wavellite on Quartz

Siglo XX Mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia.

2.6x 1.6x 1.8 cm

$68

A thumbnail:  displayed as seen in the bottom right photograph, it looks like a reptilian face.  The quartz crystals are terminated.

BV16 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

3.85x 2.2x 1.3 cm

$100

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

This is a very rare sulfosalt, which has only been recently available from this mine, and this is a prime example of the species.

BV17 Frankeite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

5.4x 3.6x 2.4 cm

$285

Franckeite is difficult to obtain in any size, but anything larger than a thumbnail is particularly scarce.  This is a spectacular miniature, with reasonably large crystals.

This is a very rare sulfosalt, which has only been recently available from this mine and the San Jose (on the other side of the same mountain), and this is a prime example of the species.

BV18 Zinkenite

Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

12.3x 4.8x 3.5 cm

$345

Another rare bolivian sulfosalt, this one an elongated cluster of zinkenite.  This is a rather large cluster, and it is quite lustrous in person.  

BV19 Sulfur

El Desierto mine, San Pablo de Napa, Daniel Campos Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

4.1x 2.8x 2.4 cm

$100

Many sulfur specimens from this locality wind up in wholesale lots, but seldom do those have the crystals or definition to rival this piece.  It is a single large crystal, displaying hoppering on multiple faces.  The color is more vibrant in person.

BV20 Danburite

Itos Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia.

3.0x 1.9x 1.85 cm

$48

A large (for the locality) crystal of danburite. 

Double terminated, with bright, smooth faces.

BV21 Monazite

Siglo XX mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia.

2.9x 2.0x 1.5 cm

$235

Bolivian monazites are not often encountered, and those that are are seldom as rich as this one.  Although a thumbnail, this piece boasts an exceptional richness and concentration of twinned crystals. The monazites are usually sparsely scattered about on larger specimens. 

The crystals also have very good color.

BV27 Monazite on Quartz

Siglo XX mine, Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi Department, Bolivia.

6.8x 4.7x 4.2 cm

$168

Bolivian monazites are not often encountered.  This piece is considerably more aesthetic than most others, with a number of monazite crystals interspersed among hundreds of quartz crystals.  

The crystals have very good color.

BV22 Bourninite

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

4.8x 3.6x 2.0 cm

$138

A complete bournonite "cogwheel" aesthetically perched on a scrap of matrix.  A beautiful miniature specimen.

BV23 Bournonite

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

7.5x 3.7x 3.1 cm

$335

A large and complete bournonite "cogwheel" dramatically perched on a scrap of matrix.  Also on the same matrix are a few siderite rhombs. A beautiful miniature specimen.

BV28 Siderite on Quartz

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

7.8x 4.8x 4.5 cm

$165

Numerous siderite cryatals perched on a cluster of transparent quartz crystals.  The siderites have dark centers.

BV24 Siderite

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

8.5x 7.5x 6.5 cm

$165

This piece is difficult to  photograph, though the contrast between the dark brown siderite and the lustrous pyrite is quite impressive in person.  The largest siderite is just over 4 cm in person.

BV25 Copper ps. Aragonite

Corocoro, Pacajes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia

3.3x 2.8x 1.5 cm

$125

Pseudomorphs of copper after aragonite are a Bolivian classic.  This piece is unusual in that it is a floater cluster of four crystals, as opposed to the usual single-crystal specimens that we have all grown accustomed to seeing.

BV26 Copper ps. Aragonite

Corocoro, Pacajes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia

3.2x 2.6x 1.5 cm

$100

Pseudomorphs of copper after aragonite are a Bolivian classic.  I purchased a very large quantity of these, and this is the largest from the lot.