CLU1 Beryl var. Emerald

Panjsher Valley, Afghanistan

3.4x 2.9x 2.5 cm

$58

A nice reference specimen from this important locality.  Neither crystal is terminated or gemmy, but the color is excellent.  If they were terminated, this would cost several hundred dollars, and if they were gemmy it would be several thousand.

But since they are not, this is a nice and very bright reference specimen from the locality...and even these do not turn up that often.

The composition of Panjsher emeralds is the closest of any non-Colombian emerald to that of the Colombian pieces.

As a side note, the Panjsher valley was one of the few places that never fell to the Taliban.  The same geography that prevented them from beating the resistance also foiled several Soviet attempts int he 1980's. 

CLU2 Afghanite

Sar-e-Sang, Badakhsan, Afghanistan

5.3x 5.3x 4.5 cm

$30

A couple small afghanite crystals on matrix.  The larger crystal measures 0.7 and is both terminated and particularly sharp.

CLU2 Afghanite

Sar-e-Sang, Badakhsan, Afghanistan

4.1x 3.4x 3.5 cm

$38

A rough but terminated afghanite crystal on matrix, from a locality that has been active for thousands of years; lapis form this locality adorns Egyptian artifacts. 

CLU3 Scheelite on Muscovite

5.6x 5.4x 2.1 cm

CLU4 Beryl var. Aquamarine, Tourmaline

(11 Specimens)

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

~1.5 to 2.0 cm each

$80

A set of 11 mixed thumbnails from Pakistan (nothing from Afghanistan).  All come from various Shigar valley localities, or from the Haramosh Mountains.  

3 Tourmalines, 8 aquas

CLU5 Silver

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

5.6x 5.3x 2.8 cm

$85

A Peruvian wire silver from the famous Uchucchacua mine, beter known for its rhodochrosites.  

Foe the price, this is an excellent specimen.  The retail value is around $200.

CLU6 Silver

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

4.3x 4.2x 3.6 cm

$70

A Peruvian wire silver from the famous Uchucchacua mine, better known for its rhodochrosites.  

Foe the price, this is an excellent specimen, with multiple, thick wires.  The retail value is well over double the asking price.

CLU7 Shattuckite with Malachite

Kandesi, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia

6.6x 5.4x 2.7 cm

$65

A colorful specimen of shattuckite from Namibia.  These were first recovered about 2 years ago, and the prices have remained high.

I found a few of these sitting around that had not been previously posted; as the rest of the lot sold, I can let these go for considerably less. 

CLU8 Shattuckite with Malachite

Kandesi, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia

7.1x 4.2 x2.8

$65

A colorful specimen of shattuckite from Namibia.  These were first recovered about 2 years ago, and the prices have remained high.

I found a few of these sitting around that had not been previously posted; as the rest of the lot sold, I can let these go for considerably less. 

CLU9 Shattuckite with Malachite

Kandesi, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia

6.1x 2.9x 2.9

$68

A colorful specimen of shattuckite from Namibia.  These were first recovered about 2 years ago, and the prices have remained high.

I found a few of these sitting around that had not been previously posted; as the rest of the lot sold, I can let these go for considerably less. 

CLU10 Shattuckite with Malachite

Kandesi, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia

7.8x 3.5x 3.4

$55

A colorful specimen of shattuckite from Namibia.  These were first recovered about 2 years ago, and the prices have remained reasonably high.

I found a few of these sitting around that had not been previously posted; as the rest of the lot sold, I can let these go for considerably less. 

CLU11 Calcite

Daye Mine, Hubei Prov., China

3.0x 2.2x 2.1

$22

A small miniature from this find.  in my opinion these are some of the finest calcites currently being found.  Virtually all of these Daye calcites tend to be rather large... here's one for someone who prefers smaller pieces. 

CLU12 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

9.4x 6.0x 2.6 cm

$48

A beautiful mimetite/wulfenite combination specimen from the recent Mexican find.  This specimen has numerous elongated crystals, terminated and on matrix.

CLU13 Wulfenite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

8.1x 4.5x 2.0 cm

$66

A rich wulfenite specimen from the recent Mexican find.  This specimen has numerous elongated crystals, terminated and on matrix..

CLU14 Wulfenite 

Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico.

4.9x 4.7x 3.1 cm

$39

Large blocky wulfenite crystals on matrix from a classic locality.  The price is what I paid for it.

CLU15 Sphalerite

Steinperf, Hesse, Germany

3.6x 3.5x 1.7 cm

$55

A rare yellow-green sphalerite from Germany.  I've only seen these for sale a couple times... both the color and the locality are very unusual for the species.  Some damage, but a rare and unusual reference specimen.

CLU16 Fluorite, Orthoclase

Erongo Mountains, Namibia

9.1x 6.1x 6.3 cm

$68

A cabinet specimen, consisting of multiple fluorite cubes perched on the sides of two orthoclase crystals.  I think the white powdery stuff surrounding the fluorite is hyalite.

I beautiful example of typical Erongo material, at a very good price.

CLU17 Corundum

Madagascar

2.0x 1.9x 1.3 cm

$30

A bluish-red hexagonal corundum crystal from Madagascar... these are somewhat harder to get than the Indian corundum from Mysore.

CLU18 Carrollite

Katanga, Congo

2.8x 1.7x 1.8 cm

$39

A nice thumbnail, with a bright octahedral carrollite crystal on a calcite matrix.

CLU19 Smokey Quartz

Papachacra, Belen Dept., Catamarca, Argentina
5.6x 5.0x 4.8 cm

$39

A specimen of smokey quartz from Argentina.  Specimens from this mine are not usually seen on the market.

CLU20 Smokey Quartz

Papachacra, Belen Dept., Catamarca, Argentina
4.1x 3.4x 2.0 cm

$23

A specimen of smokey quartz from Argentina.  Specimens from this mine are not usually seen on the market.

CLU21 Smokey Quartz

Papachacra, Belen Dept., Catamarca, Argentina
6.2x 4.3x 2.9 cm

$38

A specimen of smokey quartz from Argentina.  Specimens from this mine are not usually seen on the market.

In person, the feldspar has a slight greenish blue tinge.

CLU22 Ferberite

Cerro Tasna, Nor Chichas Prov., Potosi Distr., Bolivia 
4.1x 3.4x 2.8 cm

$39

A sharp group of parallel ferberite crystals from Bolivia, with a minor dusting of yellow tungstite.

CLU23 Phenacite

Anjanabonoina, Betafo Dist., Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar

2.0x 0.5x 0.45 cm

$33

Good phenacite is known from only a handful of locations worldwide-- from Colorado, the Urals, Myanmar, and Madagascar.  This is a rather gemmy, complete and terminated crystal, completely free of any damage. 

All in all, it is an excellent thumbnail specimen of Malagasy phenacite, at a very good price.

CLU24 Phenacite (2 Crystals)

Anjanabonoina, Betafo Dist., Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar

1.5 cm AND 1.2 cm

$35

Good phenacite is known from only a handful of locations worldwide-- from Colorado, the Urals, Myanmar, and Madagascar.  

This is a set of 2 terminated crystals, both reasonably gemmy.

CLU25 Spodumene var. Kunzite

Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar

3.5x 1.9x 0.9 cm

$34

A terminated thumbnail of pinkish spodumene from Madagascar.  Although frequently seen from Brazil and Afghanistan, Malagasy specimens are a bit rarer.

CLU26 Spodumene var. Kunzite

Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar

3.2x 0.7x 0.5 cm

$34

A terminated thumbnail of kunzite from Madagascar.  Although frequently seen from Brazil and Afghanistan, Malagasy specimens are a bit rarer.

Good color, and quite gemmy.

CLU28 Chrysoberyl

Alaotra-Mangoro Region, Toamasina  Prov., Madagascar

1.5x 1.1x 0.2 cm

$33

A twin crystal of chrysoberyl form Madagascar.

CLU29 Beryl var. Aquamarine

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

5.5x 1.6x 1.1 cm

$55

A terminated, pale blue aquamarine crystal with numerous albite crystals growing on  the back.

CLU30 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

8.5x 6.7x 2.4 cm

$60

A beautiful mimetite/wulfenite combination specimen from the recent Mexican find.  This specimen has numerous elongated crystals, terminated and on matrix..

CLU31 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

9.0x 4.5x 3.0 cm

$55

A beautiful mimetite/wulfenite combination specimen from the recent Mexican find.  This specimen has numerous elongated crystals, terminated and on matrix..

CLU32 Galena with Sphalerite
Shuikoushan Mine, Hunan Province, China
8.4x 7.3x 4.4 cm
$65
 

A specimen of galena and sphalerite from a recent Chinese find.  This is more of a galena specimen than a sphalerite specimen, but there are still a couple gemmy red sphalerites here and there.

Despite the tons of specimens coming out of China, and its relative commonness everywhere else, galena isn't usually seen from China. 

The galena crystals exhibit exceptional luster and brightness... not the dark, dull gray typical of the American localities.

A specimen of galena and sphalerite from a recent Chinese find.  This is more of a galena specimen than a sphalerite specimen, but there are still a couple gemmy red sphalerites here and there.

Despite the tons of specimens coming out of China, and its relative commonness everwhere else, galena isn't usually seen from China. 

The galena crystals exhibit exceptional luster and brightness... not the dark, dull gray typical of the American localities.

CLU34 Sphalerite
Shuikoushan Mine, Hunan Province, China
12.3x 8.0x 2.2 cm
$42
 

A specimen of reddish orange sphalerite on matrix.

CLU35 Purpurite

Namibia
4.8x 3.5x 3.1 cm

$24

Thin layers of the purple manganese phosphate purpurite on matrix.

CLU36 Mimetite

Mt. Bonnie Mine, Northern Territory, Australia
2.8x 1.8x 1.7 cm

$37

A few pale yellow crystals of mimetite on matrix from the classic Mt. Bonnie locality.  

CLU37 Dioptase

Christoff Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia
4.0x 2.4x 1.9 cm

$43

A specimen hosting a large dioptase crystal from this new Namibian find.  The specimen is a bit rough, but is a good example of dioptase from a mine that has only recently started to produce small quantities of specimens.

CLU38 Dioptase

Christoff Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia
3.4x 0.9x 0.9 cm

$43

A large dioptase crystal from this new Namibian find.  The specimen is a bit rough, but is a good example of dioptase from a mine that has only recently started to produce small quantities of specimens.

CLU39 Dioptase

Christoff Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia
3.3x 1.8x 1.3 cm

$45

A large dioptase crystal from this new Namibian find.  The specimen is a bit rough, but is a good example of dioptase from a mine that has only recently started to produce small quantities of specimens.  The main crystal is not terminated, but has a clean break.

CLU40 Dioptase

Christoff Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia
2.9x 2.2x 2.2 cm

$55

A large dioptase crystal from this new Namibian find.  The specimen is a bit rough, but is a good example of dioptase from a mine that has only recently started to produce small quantities of specimens.  Only the central crystal is terminated.

CLU41 Dioptase with Cerussite

Christoff Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Namibia
2.3x 2.0x 1.5 cm

$60

A large dioptase crystal from this new Namibian find.  The specimen is a bit rough, but is a good example of dioptase from a mine that has only recently started to produce small quantities of specimens.  

There is a cerussite v-twin on the reverse.

CLU42 Parisite

Blackbird Mine, Montana, United States
2.5x 0.7x 0.6 cm

$24

A sharp, terminated parisite thumbnail from the United States.  Good parisite is known from a few localities worldwide.

CLU43 Fluorite, , Muscovite

Erongo Mountains, Namibia

6.7x 3.1x 3.2 cm

$26

A couple green fluorite cubes on a muscovite-coated matrix, from Erongo.  The crystals do have damage.

CLU44 Garnet var. Spessartine 

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

4.4x 3.1x 1.0 cm

$25

Flattened, deep red spessartine garnets on a plate of muscovite. 

Baluchistan, Pakistan

17.7x 16.0x 5.6 cm

CLU45 Hemimorphite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

7.4x 4.6x 5.0 cm             

$38

A beautiful specimen with multiple sprays of hemimorphite on limonite from Mina Ojuela.

This is an older specimen, from the Robert Nowakowski collection.

CLU46 Malachite ps. Azurite

Milapilas, SOnora, Mexico
4.1x 3.5x 1.8 cm

$39

A nice pseudo of malachite after azurite form the recent find.

For the size, it is a superb example, and priced cheaply too.

I really do not understand the pricing on these things... in Tucson they could be found wholesale at one location, and then identical specimens would be offered for hundreds of dollars a couple miles down the road.

It is not unusual to see huge price gaps like that-- but things selling for so much are usually not seen in wholesale shows the same year....

CLU47 Fluorite

Rogerley Mine, Weardale, Durham Co., UK
6.8x 5.2x 2.5 cm

$35

Many fluorite cubes on matrix.  The color is a lot better when viewed under natural sunlight; the famous day fluorescence becomes clearly visible.  These photos were taken under incandescent lighting.

CLU48 Fluorite

Rogerley Mine, Weardale, Durham Co., UK
6.6x 6.4x 2.3 cm

$36

Many fluorite cubes on matrix.  The color is a lot better when viewed under natural sunlight; the famous day fluorescence becomes clearly visible.  These photos were taken under incandescent lighting.

CLU49 Cavansite

Wagholi, Maharashtra, India
8.0x 7.6x 4.8 cm

$55

Bright blue cavansite crystals on a heulandite matrix.  Ten years ago, this specimen would have cost about $500, but thanks to recent finds prices have dropped significantly making this beautiful mineral affordable.

CLU50 Tourmaline var. Liddicoatite

Anjanaboina Pegmatite, Central Madagascar
5.8x 4.2x 4.2 cm

$44

A small but terminated wine colored liddicoatite crystal in a quartz vug.

CLU51 Pyrite

Sparta, Illinois, United States
7.0x 6.5x 0.4 cm

$26

A "pyrite sun" from Sparta, Illinois.  These are found in coal mines... I always found these intersting.  Not rare, but interesting.

CLU52 Dioptase

Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico
2.7x 2.8x 1.7 cm

$39

A nice thumbnail with 2 blocky, bright orange wulfenites on matrix.  The crystal have excellent luster, and though there is a bit of edge wear, this is an excellent thumbnail at a very good price.

CLU53 Fluorite on Quartz

Nasik, Maharashtra, India

7.7x 4.5x 2.7 cm

$48

A globular yellow fluorite ball on quartz.

CLU54 Wulfenite

Urumqi, Kuruktag Mountains, Xinjiang Uygur Region, Northern China
4.8x 3.1x 2.1 cm

$42

A bright red wulfenite specimen from the recent finds in Xinjiang.  This is probably the most significant find of wulfenite since Wayne Thompson's 1994 find at the San Francisco Mine.

CLU55 Topaz Quartz, Albite

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

10.5x 8.5x 3.7 cm

$58

Multiple terminated, sherry colored topaz crystals on matrix.  You can see a couple smaller crystals sticking out around the edges. 

CLU56 Hematite

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

5.3x 3.0x 4.6 cm

$39

A specimen of tabular hematite from my first trip to Pakistan about 10 years ago... I just found this in the basement.  

CLU57 Vivianite

Mullica Hill, New Jersey, United States
Together: 5.5x 1.3x 1.2 cm

$24

A hollow vivianite nodule.  The Mullica Hill locality is the type locality from ferristrunzite, and is also known for producing other rare iron phosphates.

CLU58 Beryl var. Aquamarine

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

4.2x 3.8x 3.1 cm

$38

A terminated schorl crystal with a few muscovite crystals perched around its faces.

CLU59 Mushistonite on Kesterite

3.0x 3.0x 1.8 cm

4.8x 4.1x 2.5 cm

2.2x 2.4x 1.8 cm

2.1x 1.7x 1.2 cm

4.0x 3.0x 2.5 cm

CLU64 Silver

Elura Mine, Cobar, NSW, Australia.
3.9x 1.0x 0.2 cm

$38

A specimen of crystalline silver from the 1989 find at the Elura Mine, better known for its spectacular mimetite.

This thing looks a lot like a fish hook...