CNO1 Topaz, Quartz, Albite

Gao Li Gongshan, Wenshan, Yunnan Province, China
14.9x 10.3x 6.5 cm

A large cabinet topaz specimen from CHINA! (Actually from China, not Burma--the real origin of many "Chinese" topazes) These have been trickling out for the past couple years, though the quality has been consistently poor.  Once in a while a good one makes it through--and here is such a piece.

The 4 crystals are exceptionally gemmy (I would dare say even facetable) and  rise perpendicular to the matrix.  There is a bit of damage, including to the back of one crystal.  When positioned for display though, non of this is visible.  Regardless, this is still an exceptional piece for the locality--one of the few good ones that I found in Tucson.  It could even pass for being a Pakistani piece from Shigar....except it's not.  

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XJW1 Wulfenite

Urumqi, Kuruktag Mountains, Xinjiang Uygur Region, Northern China
8.8x 6.0x 2.7 cm

$750

I was lucky enough to find one Chinese dealer who had wulfenites of decent quality.  It seemed that any of the non-Chinese dealers who had any were asking ridiculous prices. 

 Most of the Urumqi wulfenites show large amounts of shattered crystals, and the color is generally not as bright.  The color on this one approaches that of Red Cloud.  While it does have a couple blemishes, the largest crystals are intact, and it glows under the correct lighting.

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XJW2 Wulfenite

Urumqi, Kuruktag Mountains, Xinjiang Uygur Region, Northern China
5.9x 1.9x 1.5 cm

Here is a smaller example of the above material--a little pillar of red wulfenite on matrix from western China.

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CNO2 Calcite

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
13.3x 11.5x 6.5 cm

$385

I usually stay away from larger specimens, especially of calcite, but I bought this one anyway.  The crystal is completely undamaged and measures 8.4 cm in length, though there are a couple blemishes on the matrix.  The crystal is reddish from iron oxide inclusions, and there are more crystals on both sides of the matrix

All in all it is an interesting piece from a prolific mine, that has produced numerous new finds over the past several years.  

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CNO3 Calcite (Twinned)

Leiping Mine, Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
7.0x 5.0x 4.8 cm

$275

A very beautiful and highly desirable small cabinet specimen with two twinned calcites on a matrix of smaller calcite crystals, a couple of which are twinned as well.  The larger twin measures 3 cm across, and displays exceptional symmetry. 

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CNO4 Calcite (Twinned)

Leiping Mine, Leiping, Guiyang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
4.0x 3.0x 3.2 cm

$200

A miniature specimen, with three twinned calcite clustered perched on a bed of smaller calcite crystals.  The larger twin measures 3.6 cm across.

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CNO5 Calcite (Twinned)

Wuzhou Mine, Guangxi Province, China
2.9x 2.0x 1.9 cm

$165

This is from a limited new find brought to Tucson this year.  It is a fine thumbnail of water-clear, twinned calcite.  The brown particles are small particles of matrix that are visible through the crystal.

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CNO6 Calcite

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
12.3x 8.5x 6.7 cm

$225

There were a lot of "poker-chip" calcites being offered this year, but this one was a bit different.  The individual "towers" are iron stained, but only on one side.  Saw marks on the reverse.

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CNO7 Cyanotrichite

Quinlong Guizhou Province, China
5.3x 4.2x 2.1 cm

I saw Chinese cyanotrichite for the first time a couple years ago, but despite looking through the few available flats, I could only find heavily damaged or sparsely coated pieces.  This one, while not perfect, is a good example of this difficult to find material--both rich, and with relatively little damage.

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CNO8 Inesite, Hubeite, Pyrite, Apophyllite

Fengjiashan Mine (Daye Copper mine), Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
3.5x 2.2x 1.9 cm

$145

Good inesite has not been encountered in Feijiangshan for some time now, and it has been less available for the last couple years.  This is a superb thumbnail of the material, with a delicate spray (coated with a thin layer of apophyllite) perched on a hubeite matrix.  There is also a small, but perfect pyrite cube on the reverse.

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CNO9 Inesite, Hubeite, Quartz

Fengjiashan Mine (Daye Copper mine), Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
7.0x 4.1x 4.2 cm

Good inesite has not been encountered in Feijiangshan for some time now, and it has been less available the last couple years.  This specimen has a 1.45 cm spray on a quartz matrix, with little balls of hubeite scattered around as well.

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CNO10 Fluorite, Calcite

Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
3.8x 3.5x 2.8 cm

$165

I found one dealer who had a few of these interesting calcite-fluorite combinations.  It is a very beautiful toenail, and certainly stands out among the endless examples of Chinese fluorite.  Contacted on the reverse.

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CNO11 Fluorite

Xinhualing Mine, Hunan Prov., China 
7.4x 1.8x 1.7 cm

A light green fluorite stalactite.  The longer branch has its tip intact.  From the new find.

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CNO12 Azurite

Liufengshan Copper Mine, Anhui Prov., China
6.3x 3.5x 3.7 cm

$365

Every year the Chinese azurites seem to get better.  In the past I have stayed away from them, but this year I saw some that I liked, including this one, with large, well defined crystals.

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CNO13 Azurite

Liufengshan Copper Mine, Anhui Prov., China
8.1x 4.5x 2.8 cm

$325

Every year the Chinese azurites seem to get better.  In the past I have stayed away from them, but this year I saw some that I liked, including this one, with large, well defined crystals.

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CNO14 Prehnite with Malachite

Meigu, Sichuan Province, China
7.7x 6.3x 2.4 cm

There have been many new finds of prehnite combinations over the past couple years Here is another interesting combination, this one including small weathered malachite crystals.

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CNO15 Prehnite with Malachite

Meigu, Sichuan Province, China
6.1x 5.8x 3.4 cm

There have been many new finds of prehnite combinations over the past couple years Here is another interesting combination, this one including small weathered malachite crystals

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CNO16 Calcite on Goethite

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
7.0x 5.8x 2.5 cm

$145

Hundreds of calcite crystals perched on a matrix of ropey goethite.  Some of the crystals are partially included by the matrix.  interesting stuff.

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CNO17 Fluorite

Minggang, Xinyang, Henan, China
12.1x 8.0x 3.5 cm

$265

A cabinet specimen of light purple, botryoidal fluorite, from the find made within the past year.

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CNO18 Fluorite

Minggang, Xinyang, Henan, China
11.7x 11.0x 3.0 cm

$300

A cabinet specimen of light purple, botryoidal fluorite, from the find made within the past year.  Translucent.

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CNO19 Fluorite

Minggang, Xinyang, Henan, China
11.5x 10.8x 4.2 cm

$285

A cabinet specimen of light purple, botryoidal fluorite, from the find made within the past year.

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