CCZ1 Pyrite

Rensselaer Quarry, Pleasant Ridge, Jasper Co., Indiana, United States
13.4x 10.5x 5.2 cm

$77

A nice sample of pyrite from the miswestern United States, featuring a large dodecahedral crystal on a matrix of octahedral pyrite and/or marcasite.

CCZ2 Fluorite on Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Keshiketeng Co., Chifeng Prefecture, Inner Mongolia A.R., China

2.9x 1.5x 1.7 cm

$49

A beautiful little thumbnail, with a step-faces octahedral fluorite crystal perched on the side of a quartz crystal.

The crystal can appear purple (as in the pictures) or have greenish hues, depending ont he lighting type. 

CCZ3 Calcite

Blackstone Mine, Schullsburg, Wisconsin, United States

11.6x 6.6x 8.3 cm

$78

An aesthetic cluster of calcite crystals from Wisconsin, with a sprinkling of pyrite/ ,arcasite inclusions.

 This piece likely dates to sometime in the 1970's, and is a good example of now scarce material from Schullsburg.  These workings exploit the same deposit as the Galena, Illinois mines, though those operated in the mid 1800's. 

CCZ4 Prehnite

Kharran, Baluchistan, Pakistan

17.3x 15.0x 4.8 cm

$93

A large cabinet specimen of somewhat tightly packed prehnite stalactites, from a find made around 11 years ago. 

CCZ5 Red Quartz, Dolomite Chalcopyrite

Fengjiashan Mine, Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China

12.1x 9.1x 4.5 cm

$76

A cabinet specimen of quartz, stained red by iron oxide inclusions.  

The placement of the dolomite crystals on this one makes the quartz cluster seem almost outlined by the dolomite.

These were first debuted about three years ago.

CCZ6 Mottramite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

12.6x 6.1x 4.0 cm

$68

A rich specimen of botryoidal green mottramite on a limonite matrix, from the major find made about 2 years ago.  

The color are form, and condition are particularly good on this piece.

Prices have come down considerably-- pieces like this were initially selling for around $400. When it comes to Mina Ojuela, it often pays to wait.... 

CCZ7 Stibnite

Hunan Prov., China
8.4x 4.0x 1.5 cm

$69

A cluster of terminated stibnite crystals on a bit of matrix, and partially overgrown by calcite on the backside.

Chinese stibnite is not rare (the country has the world's largest antimony reserves) but specimens like this are almost exclusively offered off matrix.  Combined with the lack of damage and aesthetic calcite overgrowth, I thought it was a nice specimen.

CCZ8 Cavansite

Wagholi, near Poonah, Maharashtra, India

3.2x 1.8x 1.5 cm

$68

A "toenail" specimen of cavansite, featuring a rosette of sharply bladed crystals, lightly sprinkled with minute crystals of another mineral

CCZ9 Realgar on Quartz

Palomo Mine, Castrovirreina Prov., Huancavelica Dept., Peru

7.0x 5.6x 3.7 cm

$50

A cluster of bright red realgar crystals on a cluster of quartz crystals.

This specimen was obtained on my recent Peru trip, and the word among the local dealers is that no new specimens have been found for several months, so the 7 year flow of Palomo specimens may just be coming to an end.

This locality and its realgars were featured in the March-April 2008 issue of the Mineralogical Record.

CCZ10 Autunite

Margnac Mine, Compreignac, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France
5.7x 4.0x 1.3 cm

$300 $165

I posted a page of these a couple months ago.  I bought quite a few in Tucson, so here is one discounted from my show price.

For a classic French autunite, this is pretty cheap.

CCZ12 Prehnite

Bendoukou, Sandare District, Kayes Region, Mali

8.0x 5.3x 4.1 cm

$59

A specimen of prehnite, consisting of a number of globular aggregates.

CCZ13 Pyrrhotite on Quartz

Dal'Negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia

6.1x 3.7x 3.0 cm

$58

Several bright pyrhotite crystals, nestled among a cluster of fine quartz crystals. 

CCZ14 Orpiment, Realgar

La Libertad Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

10.0x 6.9x 3.6 cm             

$69

A cabinet specimen of botryoidal orpiment, hosting a number white barite crystals from La Libertad Mine.

Specimens like this are not coming out of the mine anymore, and if they are being found the miners are unable to remove them from the mine.  This one was held back in the old stock of a dealer.

CCZ15 Pyrite ps. Pyrrhotite

Dal'Negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia

5.0x 3.7x 6.2 cm

$68

A specimen of pyrrhotite that has been replaced by pyrite, on a cluster of quartz crystals. 

CCZ16 Pyromorphite

Chenelette, Beaujeau, Rhone-Alpes, France

5.8x 3.6x 3.8 cm

$59

Numerous pyromorphite crystals on matrix, from one of the lesser known French pyromorphite localities.

CCZ17 Fluorite on Barite

Caldwell Stone Company Quarry, Danville, Kentucky, United States

10.5x 6.7x 3.7 cm

$59

Numerous light purple fluorite crystals on a layer of barite. 

Apart from millerites , I haven't seen many specimens from this state, though I am told by friends that there quite a few field collecting sites there. I suppose that would make sense, given that the same geological forces responsible for producing the Elmwood deposits and Illinois flourspar district also acted in this area (for those outside the US, Kentucky is sandwiched between better known mineral districts in southern Illinois and western Tennessee)

This specimen is at least a couple decades old. I did an internet search, and the quarry where they were found is still in operation-- it supplies crushed stone and material for making concrete.

There is damage around the edges.

CCZ18 Pyromorphite

Gute Hoffnung Mine, Bleibuir (Bescheid), Mechernich, Eifel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

7.2x 5.8x 4.6 cm

$69

A cabinet specimen, consisting of a conglomerate/ sandstone matrix richly coated by pyromorphite that boasts a very saturated green color.

You can actually see where one of the water-rounded rocks that comprises the matrix has broken in half, then had the broken face covered in pyromorphite.

This mine closed around 1880, but this specimen comes from a find made by field collectors approximately 3 years ago. 

CCZ19  Fluorite

Buranpur, Madhya Pradesh State, India
5.9x 4.0x 4.1 cm

$64

A pastel colored fluorite glob on an amethystine matrix.

CCZ20 Wulfenite

Onderra Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia 
3.1x 2.4x 1.8 cm

$69

A large, blocky wulfenite crystal from a find made about 4-5 years ago.  

This is not the typical style of wulfenite you would expect from Namibia.  Actually, because of its size and blockiness, it reminds me a bit of the classic pieces from M'Fouati, Congo that came out about 50 years ago...

CCZ21 Pyrrhotite on Pyrrhotite Pseudomorph

Dal'Negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia

5.7x 3.0x 2.3 cm

$59

A very interesting specimen, consisting of several hexagonal pyrrhotite crystals, jutting out of a tower of pyrrhotite that has (possibly) pesudomorphed to something else.  

It's not large, but for whatever reason, I really like this one. 

CCZ22 Fluorite on Calcite

Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

7.3x 6.5x 2.6 cm

$80

A purple fluorite crystal, showing the stepped cubo-octahedral crystals that Shangbao is so famous for.  

This would cost at least double from a Chinese dealer in Tucson.

CCZ23 Galena on Quartz, with minor Seligmannite

Palomo Mine, Castrovirreina Prov., Huancavelica Dept., Peru

6.3x 6.0x 3.5 cm

$57

A number of bright galena crystals, some with minor seligmannite on their faces, nestled among hundreds of quartz crystals.

The Palomo Mine was officially closed sometime in the late 1990's, though around 5 years ago a team of artisanal miners began to re-work the location for specimens.

he word among the local dealers is that no new specimens have been found for several months, so the 6 year flow of Palomo specimens may just be coming to an end.

This locality and its realgars were featured in the March-April 2008 issue of the Mineralogical Record.

CCZ24 Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz
Huaron Mines, Cerro de Pasco, Daniel Alcaldes Carrion Prov., Peru
12.0x 7.7x 3.7 cm 
$86

A cabinet specimen of pyrite from the Huaron Mine.  Once a staple of Peruvian mineral dealers, increased mechanization at newly privatized mines has all but wiped out the production of these specimens.  This piece is at least a few years old, and came from the old dealer stock of a friend in Peru.

CCZ25 Quartz incl. Chrysocolla

Lily Mine (Lilly Mine), Pisco Umay, Ica Department, Peru

8.0x 7.5x 6.7 cm             

$64

A specimen of chrysocolla overgrown by a quartz druse, from the Lilly mine. 

I have seen this material cut into various shapes and used as jewelry--I couldn't believe the first time I saw "drusy" jewelery....

CCZ26 Pyrite

Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru

6.0x 5.5x 4.7 cm

$69

A very bright and lustrous specimen of pyrite octahedrons what has perhaps been the most prolific pyrite producer in the world, the Huanzala mine.

This piece is not entirely perfect from any side (that's why it's not $200+), though it is composed of the most sought-after (and hard to find) of the pyrite forms from Huanzala-- cubes and dodecahedrons are considered common, while octahedrons are seldom encountered.

CCZ27 Copper

Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Mun. de Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico
6.0x 5.0x 0.2 cm

$49

Over the last couple years, the Milpillas Mine has gained fame for its copper minerals, most notably its azurite and malachite after azurite pseudos. The mine has also produced decent cuprite, and interesting cuprite and chrysocolla included agates. 

CCZ28 Quartz on Fuchsite

Pasto Bueno, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

9.0x 10.8x 6.1

$63

A cluster of quartz crystals on nicely contrasting green fuchsite.  There is a significant amount of damage to the quartz, thought it's a decent reference from this new find.

CCZ29  Phenacite

Anjanabonoina Pegmatite, Ambohimanambola Commune, Betafo Dist., Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar 
2.0x 0.6x 0.5 cm

$27

A terminated phenacite prism from the Anjanabonoina Pegmatite.  Many of these first get sold in Anbohimanambola, the last village on the way to the pegmatite before the road gets too bad to travel by car.

 The trip between the village and the pegmatite can be made in 8 hours by motoscooter, however many of the miners are too poor to afford a scooter, leave alone gasoline or even shoes.  Instead they walk an astounding THREE DAYS to reach the village and sell their wares, and then they must walk three days back to the mine.

CCZ30 Cobaltocalcite

Agoudal Mine, Bou Azzer, Morocco
7.0x 4.2x 3.9 cm

$39

Numerous bright pink cobaltocalcite crystals on matrix.  A colorful reference piece.

CCZ31 Pyromorphite

Gute Hoffnung Mine, Bleibuir (Bescheid), Mechernich, Eifel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

7.5x 9.3x 3.0 cm

$78

A cabinet specimen, consisting of a sandstone matrix richly coated by pyromorphite that boasts a very saturated green color.

This mine closed around 1880, but this specimen comes from a find made by field collectors approximately 3 years ago. 

CCZ32 Orpiment

La Libertad Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

4.3x 4.2x 1.5 cm             

$46

A specimen of crystalline orpiment from a recent find.  Orpiment at this mine typically occurs as aggregates of microcrystals (such as the specimens associated with barite,) this type of larger crystal is generally associated with the finds from the 90's and before.

CCZ33 Azurite 

Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Sonora, Mexico
3.3x 3.0x 1.5 cm

$86

A cluster of lustrous azurite crystals from Milpillas.  There is damage, but I think you would have a hard time finding a sample for less....

I will also add, that the prices on these things are probably the most subjective I have seen.  There was a new pocket in Tucson this year, so there was more available than in years past.  As a result, it was possible to go into one room, see a piece for $200, then go into another and see an identical piece for over $1000.... and I'm pretty sure I wasn't missing any "small details" like chips or damage.  

Whatever the case, while admittedly not perfect, this one is cheap.  

CCZ34 Pyrrhotite on Quartz

Dal'Negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia

4.7x 3.1x 2.9 cm

$58

A very bright, and complete crystal of pyrrhotite on a scrap of matrix.  The piece is so lustrous, that the reflection caused the camera to automatically increase the exposure, darkening the two lower images. 

CCZ37 Celestite

Sakoany deposit, Katsepy Commune, Mitsinjo District, Boeny Region, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar

9.2x 7.5x 6.3 cm

$59

A cabinet specimen of blue celestite from Madagascar. 

CCZ38 Pyromorphite

Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene District, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States

2.0x 1.0x 0.8 cm

$29

A thumbnail specimen of orange pyromorphite from the now-famous 80's finds at the Bunker Hill Mine.  

CCZ39 Analcime

Croft Quarry, Croft, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

4.6x 4.0x 3.5 cm

$42

A somewhat difficult (and older) example of British analcime.

CCZ40 Celestite

Sakoany deposit, Katsepy Commune, Mitsinjo District, Boeny Region, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar

8.3x 5.8x 3.1 cm

$39

A reference specimen of pale blue celestite from Madagascar. 

CCZ41 Helvite

Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

4.0x 2.0x 1.3- cm

$69

A thumbnail specimen, featuring an orange Helvite crystal.  These specimens come from the same locality that yielded the spessartine/ smokey quartz bonanza several years ago.

The locality actually consists of a large granite hill.  At present, just about all of the workable part of that hill has been carved away to excavate for specimens.

These have not been found for a few years. 

CCZ42 Spessartine

Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

4.2x 3.7x 1.8 cm

$36

A reference sample of orange spessartine on light smokey quartz, from find several years back at the Wuhan spessartine mine. 

CCZ43 Realgar on Quartz

Palomo Mine, Castrovirreina Prov., Huancavelica Dept., Peru

4.4x 3.6x 2.5 cm

$39

Bright red realgar crystals on a cluster of quartz crystals.

The Palomo Mine was officially closed sometime in the late 1990's, though around 5 years ago a team of artisanal miners began to re-work the location for specimens.

This specimen was obtained on my recent Peru trip, and the word among the local dealers is that no new specimens have been found for several months, so the 6 year flow of Palomo specimens may just be coming to an end.

This locality and its realgars were featured in the March-April 2008 issue of the Mineralogical Record.

CCZ44 Halite

Intrepid Potash Mine, 9.7 km ENE of Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico

2.4x 1.8x 1.8 cm

$25

A cleavage fragment of blue halite from New Mexico.  This was one of the finds debuted in Tucson this year, though they have been found several times over the last couple decades. This is a decent reference sample.

CCZ45 Afghanite

Sar-e-Sang, Badakhshan, Afghanistan

3.6x 3.2x 2.6 cm

$58

A terminated afghanite crystal on a marble matrix, from the same group of workings that have produced lazurite for the last 5000 years.

CCZ46 Spessartine

Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan

4.5x 4.4x 4.0 cm

$47

A few deep red spessartine crystals on feldspar from the Shaigar Valley, located in the northernmost part of Pakistan.

CCZ47 Tetrahedrite

Pasto Bueno, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

9.0x 6.2x 3.5

$59

A plate of tetrahedrite crystals, from recent finds at the Pasto Bueno workings.  The Pasto Bueno workings closed in the late 1980's, but have recently reopened for specimen recovery. 

CCZ48 Ferberite on Quartz

Pasto Bueno, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

6.5x 4.1x 3.6

$76

A sharp black crystal of ferberite on a quartz matrix.  This crystal is unusually sharp and distinct, and also somewhat harder to find-- hubnerite is far more common in the area. 

CCZ49 Rhodochrosite

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

2.3x 1.5x 1.1 cm

$64

A thumbnail rhodochrosite specimen, featuring a terminated (and rather elongated) crystal perched on a bit of matrix.

CCZ50 Quartz (Japan Law Twin)

Cajamarca, Cajamarca Province, Cajamarca Department, Peru 

4.1x 2.6x 1.8 cm

$43

A miniature specimen, hosting 2 Japan law twins on a bit of matrix.

This one is from a small specimen mining project in the Cajamarca area.  The dig was ultimately unsuccessful, but they did recover some specimens.  It makes for an unusual locality piece.

CCZ51 Tennantite with Pyrite coating
Julcani Dist., Angaraes Prov., Huancavelica Prov., Peru
15.0x 10.7x 4.5 cm
$88

A cabinet sized plate of Tetrahedrite from older finds at the Julcani Mine.

CCZ52 Ilvaite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

6.1x 3.8x 2.0 cm

$64

A terminated black ilvaite crystal, attached to a bit of matrix.  The matrix is composed primarily of quartz.

Most of the time these occur off matrix.

CCZ53 Vesuvianite

Huanggang Mine, Keshiketeng Co., Chifeng Prefecture, Inner Mongolia A.R., China
6.7x 5.0x 4.0 cm

$58

So this isn't exactly a stellar example of Vesuvianite, but I would imagine this piece to be of interest for anyone who has been following the finds out of Huanggang.

Vesuvianite has been found at the mine as blocky crystals resembling the andradite garnets, though there was one find of these narrow prismatic crystals.  This same pocket also produced the cuspidines.

I have only seen a couple examples of this material available, so I figured it would be an interesting reference to post here. 

CCZ54 Genthelvite

Huanggang Mine, Keshiketeng Co., Chifeng Prefecture, Inner Mongolia A.R., China

1.4x 1.4x 1.3 cm

$39

A thumbnail specimen, consisting of a ball-shaped aggregate of tetrahedral crystals.

CCZ55 Ilvaite, Arsenopyrite, Hedembergite

Huanggang Mine, Keshiketeng Co., Chifeng Prefecture, Inner Mongolia A.R., China

9.5x 5.8x 6.2 cm

$64

A spray of hedenbergite coated ilvaite, hosting a pair of orbicular arsenopyrite aggregates.

This piece comes from one of the early finds at Huanggang, made around 2011.

CCZ56 Sphalerite

Chaobuleng, East Ujimqin Banner, Dongwu Qi), Xilin Gol League (Xilinguole Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.2x 5.2x 2.5 cm

$59

A large crystal of sphaerite from Chaobuleng, a mine group located about 200 miles away from the more well known Huanggang complex.  

This piece does have damage, but as it is the only example of sphalerite I have seen from Chaobuleng, I thought it would make an interesting reference specimen for anyone who has been following the new finds coming from Inner Mongolia.

CCZ57 Clinozoisite 

Angelina III Mine,  Pisco Prov., Ica Dept., Peru

5.1x 3.2x 2.6 cm

$43

A fairly rich example of clinozoisite from a find made about 3 years ago in Peru.  The crystals are nowhere near as large as those from Pakistan, but for Peru, this is an excellent example of the epidote-group mineral.

CCZ58 Selenite incl. ????

Lily Mine (Lilly Mine), Pisco Umay, Ica Department, Peru

14.2x 6.0x 3.3 cm             

$88

A very unusual specimen, consisting of a selenite sheet coated (and partially included by) a powdery blue material.

I had this tested, and the blue stuff is not crystalline, so it is apparently not a real mineral.  Whatever it is, it is included IN the selenite, so it's definitely natural....

An interesting Peruvian odditity.... 

CCZ59 Calcite incl. Marcasite

Conco Mine, North Aurora, Kane Co., Illinois, United States

10.5x 8.5x 7.5 cm

$66

A nice cabinet specimen from a recent find in the Chicago suburbs, actually about 30 miles from where I live. These were debuted at the 2011 Tucson show

This piece has a display face covered with lustrous, scalenohedral calcite crystals, which get an added sparkle from minute marcasite inclusions. 

CCZ60 Smithsonite

Athens, Fayette Co., Kentucky, United States

7.6x 5.6x 3.8 cm             

$69

A rare (and rather ugly) example of smithsonite from Kentucky.  It's the only one I have ever seen, and came from the collection of an individual who mainly collected material from southern Illinois, Tennessee, and the surrounded area (which includes Kentucky.)

CCZ61 Calcite
Berry Materials Corp. Quarry (North Vernon Plant), North Vernon, Jennings Co., Indiana
9.5x 5.4x 2.2 cm
$59

A specimen of honey colored calcite crystals from the Berry Materials quarry.

These are probably some of my favorite American calcites, both for their unusual, seemingly rounded form (vs. the rhombs and scalenohedrons that you find everywhere else) and their spectacular luster.

CCZ62 Fluorite

Clay Center, Ottawa County, Ohio, united States

7.3x 5.1x 3.0 cm             

$39

 A pair of brown fluorite crystals on matrix.

CCZ63 Sphalerite

Biggsville Quarry, Biggsville, Illinois, USA.

9.4x 4.0x 4.5 cm             

$58

A black sphalerite crystal on matrix, from a locality in north western Illinois that has produced some of the Midwestern US's best millerites.

Sphalerite is less common at the site.

CCZ64 Rhodochrosite

5.7x 4.8x 2.5 cm

CCZ65 Silver

Cobalt, Ontario, Canada

6.5x 4.9x 0.65 cm             

$59

A slab of silver bearing ore from Canada.

CCZ66 Amethyst

Moqor, Mqakkhar Mountains, Ghanzi Province, Afghanistan

4.7x 2.8x 2.5 cm             

$36

A terminated example of Afghan amethyst from a find made a few years back. There is some chipping near the terminaton.

CCZ67 Calcite

Sylvania, Lucas Co., Ohio, USA

9.7x 9.7x 5.9 cm             

$56

A cluster of terminated, honey colored calcite crystals from the Midwestern United States. 

CCZ68 Vauxite

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

9.5x 4.3x 2.6 cm 
$88

A larger than usual specimen, featuring light blue vauxite, from a find made around 2 years ago at the Siglo XX Mine.  The white micro crystals are likely paravauxite.

CCZ69 Sigloite ps. Paravauxite 

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

8.9x 5.2x 3.2 cm

$46

In 2006, miners at the Siglo XX Mine recovered some of the best paravauxites ever found.  This is a good example from that find.

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.

CCZ70 Quartz

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

10.5x 8.3x 4.6 cm

$86

A cluster of smokey quartz crystals from the Viloco mine.

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

CCZ71 Metastibnite 

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

5.4x 3.2x 3.8 cm

$68

A few years ago there was an exceptional find of metastibnite at the San Jose Mine.  Metastibnite is usually not found as anything more than reddish smears, however this find produced some of the best examples of the species ever recovered.  This specimen has rich botryoidal crusts of the mineral.

I was fortunate to find this specimen in Tucson, particularly as none has been found since that one time find

CCZ72 Copper ps. Aragonite

Corocoro District, Pacajes Province, La Paz Department, Bolivia.

3.8x 2.8x 2.5 cm

$64

A rather large example of this material, consisting of a ball shaped cluster of aragonite crystals that have partially pseudomorphed to copper.

I say "partially pseudomorphed" because the specimen is too light to be entirely copper.  The center is most likely still aragonite.

CCZ73 Quartz, Cassiterite

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

6.3x 5.2x 2.7 cm

$39

Numerous shiny black cassiterite crystals on matrix, from the Viloco Mine.  A decent reference sample.

CCZ74 Zinckenite

San Jose Mine, Oruro, Oruro Department, Bolivia

6.1x 4.2x 3.0 cm

$68

A cluster of zinckenite crystals from Bolivia.  There is obvious damage given the thin, brittle nature of the crystals (this is inescapable), but it's a good reference piece.

CCZ75 Greenockite 

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

6.7x 3.7x 1.7 cm

$44

Greenockite is rarely available from anywhere, but those from Bolivia are particularly scarce. This specimen has a rich coating of the mineral, on matrix.

CCZ76 Fluorite 

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra State, India

4.0x 3.2x 2.1 cm

$30

A little fluorite ball in a quartz lined geode.  This piece likely had a high opal content, as the powdery appearance (it is not actually powdery) is indicative of dehydration.

CCZ77 Enargite

La Libertad Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

5.5x 3.6x 3.6 cm             

$66

A cluster of lustrous enargite prisms from a very small recent find (the best pieces are shown in the main Peru update.)

Apart from the infrequent appearance of specimens from Peru, other (even scarcer) examples are occaisionally seen from Butte, Montana and Taiwan.

CCZ78 Thorite

Kempf Prospect, Cheddar, Ontario, Canada

3.2x 2.0x 1.8 cm             

$59

A rare and ugly (though very well formed) example of this thorium bearing silicate from the premier locality for the species.

CCZ79 Pearceite

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

5.0x 3.1x 4.1 cm

$39

A reference sample of the silver sulfosalt pearceite on matrix.  This piece comes from a find made approximately 4-5 years ago.

Glove Mine, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, United States

3.2x 2.4x 1.0 cm

$26

A reference sample of the silver sulfosalt pearceite on matri

CCZ81 Magnetite

Balmat, Balmat-Edwards Zinc District, St. Lawrence Co., New York, USA

1.8x 1.6x 1.5 cm

$46

A rare thumbnail of CUBIC magnetite.  Magnetite is most commonly octahedral, and is known to occur as dodecahedrons in skarns, but cubes are somewhat harder to find.

This piece comes from an early 90's find in New York.

CCZ82 Magnetite

Balmat, Balmat-Edwards Zinc District, St. Lawrence Co., New York, USA

1.2x 1.2x 1.0 cm

$43

A rare thumbnail of CUBIC magnetite.  Magnetite is most commonly octahedral, and is known to occur as dodecahedrons in skarns, but cubes are somewhat harder to find.

This piece comes from an early 90's find in New York.

CCZ83 Calcite

Yunnan Prov., China

24.3x 3.8x 3.5 cm

$46

A tulip-like cluster of elongated calcite crystals from southwestern China.  These were found around 5-6 years ago.

There is a cleave on one of the crystals that form the termination.

CCZ84 Bixbyite 

Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, United States

1.0x 0.9x 0.85 cm

$48

A reference sample of bixbyite.  This is actually quite a sizable crystal, it displays well (that is, it looks a lot more complete and cubic positioned in the perky box.)

CCZ85 Cerussite

Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia

6.1x 5.5x 3.1 cm

$67

A pair of cerussite crystals on matrix, from Tsumeb.  The crystal on the left is broken on the back, but the specimen is exactly as shown in the pictures.

CCZ86 Copper

Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia

5.3x 3.6x 3.2 cm

$160 $80

A (reasonably) rare copper specimen from Tsumeb.  Although copper was one of the mine's primary products, actual native copper was never particularly abundant.  I had it marked at $160 in my show stock.

CCZ87 Wulfenite with Malachite

Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia

5.2x 2.3x 3.1 cm

$150  $79

An orange wulfenite crystal that contrasts nicely against its malachite coated matrix.  This piece was priced at $150 in my show stock.

SMQ24 Copper with Mimetite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
4.2x 3.3x 2.4 cm

$165  $75

An unusual combination from Tsumeb, this piece hosts a number of yellow Mimetite prisms and a curving branch of dendritic copper. Neither mineral would be particularly special on its own (though native copper was not especially abundant at Tsumeb, despite it being one of the principal metals there) but to see the two in combination is quite unusual.

SMQ40 Cuproadamite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
4.1x 3.0x 1.0 cm

$185  $135

An example of deep green cuproadamite on matrix, from Tsumeb. There is damage (note the sheared crystals in the picture) but when was the last time you saw a decent example of this material offered this cheaply? 

JU202 Copper

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
13.1x 7.0x 4.6 cm

$550  $265

A cabinet specimen from Tsumeb, composed almost entirely of native copper and forming a vug containing numerous well defined crystals. Although copper was one of the primary products of the Tsumeb mine (it was even known as a source of copper to the indigenous peoples long before Western mining began) the location did not actually produce all that many specimens of native copper.

With the price reduction, I think this is very, very cheap for what it is.