Chearance Minerals! Mineral specimens under $100

CLS16 Barite

Cerro Warihuyn, 2 hours walk from Miraflores, Huamalias. Huanuco, Peru

4.1x 3.7x 2.9 cm

$46

A miniature specimen of barite, on a scrap of matrix.

CLS20 Kinoite

Christmas Mine, Gila Co., Arizona, US

7.0x 4.5x 6.2 cm

$59

A reasonably rich specimen of tiny, bright blue kinoite crystals on matrix from Arizona. Although the species is known from a number of localities, I've only ever seen it offered from the Chrismas mine.

CLS22 Tourmaline on Quartz

Paprok, Kunar, Afghanistan

10.5x 6.3x 3.6 cm

$67

A partial prism of elbaite touraline on a partial prism of quartz. Not particularly spectacular, but for some reason it looks a lot more impressive than it is....

CLS29 Calcite

Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India

7.7x 5.3x 2.8 cm

$38

A pair of yellowish calcite crystals on a white matrix, from recent finds.

CLS31 Calcite

Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India

9.0x 8.3x 5.1 cm

$69

Scalenohedal calcite crystals-- some curiously darker than others-- on a contrasting white matrix.

CLS34 Chalcopyrite, Siderite

Ganzhizhou Mine, Meigu Co., Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China

4.8x 4.2x 3.2 cm

$39

A decent specimen of chalcopyrite with siderite from the recent Chinese find. As unfortunately seems to be the case with most of these, there is some damage, most notably on the edges and bottom left.

It is still priced at or below what you would expect to pay a Chinese dealer in Tucson for a piece of this size, particularly with the siderite as sharp and blady as it is.

There has been some confusion as to the locality of these specimens-- I am giving it as the Ganzhizhou Mine. I have also heard various locations in Inner Mongolia given, but from conversations with Chinese dealers who have actually been to Inner Mongolia, it is pretty certain that these are not from there. Consensus seems to support the locality given above.

CLS44 Quartz (Japan Law Twin)

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

3.5x 2.6x 1.0 cm

$39

A Japan law twin from recent workings at Pasto Bueno. There is a small chip at the top, visible in the pictures.

CLS45 Stannite Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China 2.5x 2.0x 1.4 cm $66 A cluster of stannite crystals from China. Stannite is a rare iron, copper, tin mineral that in recent years has turned up in Bolivia (Potosi), though which also occured at Yaogangxian. The Yaogangxian specimens are rather difficult to find now.

CLS47 Rhodonite

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

3.9x 2.7x 1.8 cm

$58

A nice specimen of rhodinite on a bit of matrix.

CLS51 Andradite Garnet

Sandare, Nioro du Sahel, Mali

2.7x 2.2x 2.3 cm

$42

A lustrous and sharp Malian garnet.

IJP22 Pyromorphite,

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

3.9x 3.0x 2.5 cm

~~$285~~ $135

A cluster of brown pyromorphite crystals, with yellow terminations. The largest aggregates reach 2.75 cm in length.

CLS52 Rhodochrosite

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

1.6x 1.0x 0.8 cm

$39

A nice thumbnail, consisting of a single pink scalenohedron.

Peru produces a lot of Rhodochrosite, but those from Uchucchacua have the deepest color, and (as far as I know) this is the only locality to produce elongated or scalenohedral crystals. At the majority of other Peruvian sites where it occurs, it typically forms rhombic crystals or aggregates, nearly always opaque and light in color. The main exception would be the Pasto Bueno finds from the late 1970’s.

CLS56 Willemite

Sterling Mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA

3.6x 3.0x 2.0 cm

$66

An old specimen of willemite from a classic New Jersey locality.

CLS57 Stilbite

Paracas, Ica Dept., Peru

5.5x 4.2x 2.9 cm

$53

An unusual orange stilbite from Peru-- along with the recent finds at the Angelina III mine, these represent the only occurrences of the mineral in the country.

CLS58 Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.6x 5.0x 3.1 cm

$56

A decently sized "beta quartz scepter" from Huanggang. The luster on this piece is better than most of the others-- typically their surfaces are etched.

CLS61 Purpurite

Goabev 63 Farm, Karibib, Namibia

7.2x 4.0x 2.8 cm

$48

A thin layer of purpurite on a brown matrix, from Namibia. Purpuriteis a manganese iron phosphate.

CLS66 Quartz incl. Hedenbergite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.6x 3.4x 2.8 cm

$46

A cluster of hedenbergite included quartz crystals from recent finds in Inner Mongolia.

CLS70 Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.5x 4.0x 3.1 cm

$58

A damage free pair of colorless fluorite crystals with minor lollingite, from the Huanggang mine. Better in person, the etching on the surfaces makes it difficult to photograph.

CLS76 Torbernite

Lawson Mine, Spruce Pine, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell Co., North Carolina, USA

10.5x 9.1x 4.1 cm

$68

A rare specimen of torbernite from the classic Spruce Pine district, with platy green crystals lying flat againt their matrix.

CLS77 Phosphouranylite

Posey Mine, Red Canyon, San Juan Co., Utah, United States

6.4x 5.5x 4.3 cm

$46

A rare specimen of phosphouranylite on a sandstone matrix.

CLS79 Stibnite

Cottage Grove, Lane Co., Oregon, USA

5.5x 5.4x 4.8 cm

$58

A rare example of stibnite from Oregon, with numerous silvery crystals embedded in an off-white matrix.

CLS80 Tetrahedrite , Quartz

Mundo Nuevo District, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

7.0x 5.8x 3.5 cm

$58

A cluster of rather large tetrahedrite crystals, hosting a cluster of colorless quartz crystals, a couple double terminated.

CLS85 Bourninite

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

3.4x 2.0x 1.3 cm

$36

A bournonite crystal, nicely perched on a scrap of matrix. A beautiful "toenail" specimen.

CLS86 Cassiterite

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

5.0x 3.9x 1.7 cm

$42

A specimen with several translucent cassiterite crystals on matrix, from Bolivia.

CLS87 Siderite

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

7.7x 6.2x 5.6 cm

$69

A cabinet specimen featuring numerous siderite disks clustered around colorless quartz crystals. There is a bit of damage, but it is otherwise exactly as in the pictures. Found in 2007-2008.

CLS88 Anrite, Stannite, Jamesonite

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

2.7x 2.2x 1.6 cm

$38

These little ball clusters come from a 2008 find. The specimens are a mixture of andorite crystals, stannite crystals, jamesonite and possibly other minerals.

CLS89 Molybdenite

Inca de Oro, Chañaral Province, Atacama Region, Chile

3.6x 3.5x 2.8 cm

$28

A reference sample of massive molybdenite from Chile-- for some reason the picture at right looks to have a hexagonal outline, but I think that's misleading.

CLS90 Tourmaline var. Liddicoatite

Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar

3.6x 2.0x 1.5 cm

$42

A terminated liddicoatite crystal from Madagascar. This piece has somewhat rough surfaces, but when backlit it takes on a brownish yellow color.

CLS93 Zircon

Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar

1.2x 0.9x 0.8 cm

$27

A double terminated zircon from Madagascar. Unusual material from recent mining activities.

CLS95 Betafite
Betafo, Antananarivo Prov., Madagascar
2.1x 1.3x 1.4 cm
$32

A pair of betafite crystals from the type locality.

CLS97 Chrysocolla?

Manto Cuba Mine, San Pedro de Cachiyuyo Dist., Inca de Oro, Chañaral Prov., Atacama Region, Chile

6.3x 5.3x 3.3 cm

$39

A vug hosting a druse of (what appears to be) brightly colored chrysocolla, from the famous Chilean copper country.

CLS101 Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.3x 3.5x 2.8 cm

$33

A cluster of beta quartz crystals from recent finds at the Huanggang mine.

CLS104 Pyromorphite,

Wheatly Mine, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

11.3x 4.8x 2.2 cm

~~$75~~ $44

Here is another Phoenixville specimen--though this one is hardly a classic. It is however, a very rich example of the specimens that have been coming from the mine dumps in recent years.

CLS105 Quartz ep. Anhydrite

Cunningham Gulch, San Juan Mtns., Silverton, Colorado.

8.8x 7.0x 3.7 cm

$43

An unusual specimen consisting of a plate of quarz epimorphs after anhydrite crystals.

CLS108 Smithsonite

Scotland, United Kingdom

7.5x 5.1x 3.3 cm

$58

A rare (and old) specimen of Scottish smithsonite, unfortunately I don't have more specific locality information.

CLS113 Fluorite on Calcite

Shangbao Mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Pref., Hunan Prov., China

5.8x 5.0x 2.3 cm

$48

A mostly complete, purple fluorite crystal on a matrix of calcite crystals, from the Shangbao Mine. This mine is now closed, and its fluorites are among the most collectible from the various Chinese finds.

This piece shows the typical step-faces that the mine is known for. The crystal is not a complete "ball", though as the same surface features are also visible on the reverse, it does not appear to be damaged.

CLS115 Corundum var. Sapphire

Azrat Syed, Badakhshan, Afghanistan9.5x 6.6x 4.7 cm

~~$200~~ $95

A with nice blue zones, on a muscovite matrix. Apart from the Jagdalek rubies, I have not seen much in the way of corundum from Afghanistan, and certainly no sapphire specimens.

There are no images of anything other than Afghan rubies pictured on Mindat, so I take it as a sign (combined with my not having seen anything at shows) that this is something reasonably new.. The termination is missing; even so, it is priced at a fraction of what I have seen similar specimens being offered for in Tucson.

SEM32 Semseyite, Galena Herja, Romania 10.7x 7.5x1.8 cm $~~275~~ $110 An aesthetic cabinet specimen of this usually dull, rare mineral. There are several clusters of semseyite on the matrix of galena crystals, a couple of which can be seen in more detail in the close-ups. I count 8 clusters of semseyite, the largest (bottom right) is 2.5 cm in length.

CLN6 Sphalerite

Shuikoushan ore field, Changning, Hengyang Pref., Hunan Province, China

7.1x 6.6x 1.9 cm

$68

Dark red sphalerites on a quartz coated matrix, from China.

BH030 Calcite on Chalcedony, Gyrolite

Mahodari Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra Prov., India
9.7x 9.6x 5.1 cm

$~~175~~ $75

An interesting specimen of calcite on stalactitic chalcedony, over which many tiny gyrolite balls (<1 mm) have formed. It appears that the calcite was etched prior to the gyrolite formation, giving it a strange, shriveled and dehydrated appearance...

CLN7 Sphalerite

Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States

6.0x 6.0x 3.7 cm

$48

A cluster of sphalerite crystals on matrix, from the Elmwood mine. The cluster is nicely positioned on its matrix.

CLN9 Pentagonite

Wagholi, near Poonah, Maharashtra, India

4.9x 4.1x 4.1 cm

$46

A few clusters of pentagonite crystals on matrix. Some of the branches on the main cluser are broken, but the price more than takes this into account.

As an interesting side note, the quarry where pentagonite is found is located in a huge complex containing several very large quarries. Cavansite and pentagonite have only been found in any appreciable quantity in part of one of those quarries, even though all are located within approximately 2 square kilometers of land.

CLN13 Cavansite

Wagholi, near Poonah, Maharashtra, India

4.6x 4.2x 3.5 cm

$58

A nice cluster of cavansite crystals on matrix.

As an interesting side note, the quarry where cavansite is found is located in a huge complex containing several very large quarries. Cavansite and pentagonite have only been found in any appreciable quantity in part of one of those quarries, even though all are located within approximately 2 square kilometers of land

There is some scuffing, as visible in the pictures.

CLN15 Apophyllite with Stilbite

Nasik Area, Maharashtra State, India

6.0x 5.3x 3.9 cm

$46

A cluster of pale green apophyllite on matrix, from India. the green color is a result of vanadium impurities.

CLN18 Copper on Prehnite

Kemp's Prospect, Cheddar, Cardiff Township, Haliburton Co., Ontario, Canada

3.5x 2.8x 2.1 cm

$68

A beautiful "toenail" specimen (though which fits in a Perky box) of copper on a nicely contrasting, light green prehnite matrix. This combination is much sought after by copper and Michigan collectors.

CLN23 Orpiment

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

6.4x 4.4x 3.9 cm

$69

An old specimen of crystalline orpiment from Peru, pieces like this have not come from this locality in many years. Contemporary pieces are typically masses of smaller crystals (think of the barite/ orpiment combinations.) This one is closer to what you would expect to find from say, the Twin Creeks mine in Nevada.

CLN26 Tetrahedrite

Mundo Nuevo District, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

4.0x 3.7x 2.2 cm

$52

A bournonite-coated tetrahedrite crystal nestled between a pair of quartz crystals. The crystal is not a full tetrahedron, but displays well front the front.

Operations at this mine were once much larger in scale, though key parts of the site were blown up by Shining Path guerillas in the early 1990's. The site was then abandoned until the specimen recovery project in 2008.

CLN29 Fluorite

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

8.5x 6.3x 2.8 cm

$68

A novelty from Huanzala mine, best known for its pyrites and pink fluorites. This specimen hosts a few very light green fluorite crystals.

Unlike past fluorites from Huanzala, these are cubooctahedral ("Shangbao-style") as opposed to octahedral. There is damage, though it makes for a decent reference.

CLN30 Barite, Orpiment, Realgar

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

5.1x 3.1x 2.9 cm

$78

An unusually large orpiment crystal, by the standards of Peru or anywhere else for that matter. There is obviously some scuffing, though it is still an impressive example of the material-- especially at this price. Please note that the pictures are taken under intense lighting, so it will be a bit less bright when not in a display case.

CLN38 Marcasite

NWFP, Pakistan
5.9x 4.5x 3.8 cm (both halves together)

$50

I have had several people ask me if I ever see any ore/sulfide minerals in Pakistan. I have, and this on my last trip I made a point to pick a couple up... It's not what people usually bring out of Pakistan, but it's interesting if for no other reason than that it is Pakistani.

The fact is that Pakistan is full of ore, but the dealers in Peshawar only focus on the higher value pegmatite species. Foreign mining companies don't work the metal deposits because of the political climate, and because many of the deposits are located on private land owned by feudal landlords (a holdover from the Mughal and colonial eras) who tend to combat any attempt by the government to survey their land.

CLN39 Galena

Gilgit, Northern Areas, Pakistan
7.8x 6.1x 4.7 cm

$39

Semi-proof that Pakistan has rich ore deposits. I purchased this at a shop in Gilgit in 2006.

CLN42 Arsenopyrite on Lollingite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.8x 5.6x 2.6 cm

$68

A lustrous specimen of lollingite, completely coated with bright arsenopyrite. The lollingite is not visible from the front, the only ways you know that it is there are the overall form of the piece, and that you can see it from the back, which is contacted.

CLN43 Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.0x 4.5x 4.7 cm

$43

A reference example of this unusual color of fluorite, from Huanggang. I have seen very few pieces with this color, and the prices are always very high. Of course, this one has damage (top termiation) so I figured it would make a decent reference specimen for someone.

CLN46 Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.1x 5.5x 3.8 cm

$68

An example of this unusual habit of fluorite from Huanggang. The ball-shaped aggregates are actually clusters of hundreds of small purple and green dodecahedrons.

These have only been found a couple times at the mine, and while damaged, this piece is marked at a fraction of the cost of a perfect one.

CLN52 Manganocalcite

Pachapaqui Mine, Bolognesi, Ancash Dept., Peru

5.9x 4.8x 3.8 cm

$44

A cluster of milky white manganocalcite crystals. Fluorescent.

CLN53 Barite

Cerro Warihuyn, 2 hours walk from Miraflores, Huamalias. Huanuco, Peru

3.6x 3.1x 1.8 cm

$36

A miniature specimen of barite, on a scrap of matrix, showing good phantoms. There is a bit of damage, more easily seen in the picture with the black background.

CLN54 Manganocalcite

Racracancha Mine, Tinyahuarco Dist,. Pasco prov., Cero De Pasco Dept., Peru

4.0x 3.6x 2.4 cm

$33

A twinned calcite crystal, lightly fluorescet, from the Racracancha mine.

Racracancha is a long abandoned mine, which around 2007 was rediscovered by local miners who for the last several years have been working to extract mineral specimens. The mine is most notable for its striated pyrites, included calcites, and manganocalcites.

CLN59 Pyrite Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar

7.5x 2.1x 2.1 cm

$49

From anywhere else, this specimen would be quite common. But from Madagascar (or anywhere in Africa for that matter) pyrite is not something often seen.

This interesting locality piece consists of thousands of mall pyrite crystals arranged into an elongated nodule.

A hard to find piece for a pyrite collector or collector of Malagasy minerals.

CLN67 Ferberite

Tasna mine, Rosario section of Cerro Tasna, Atocha-Quechisla District, Nor Chichas Province, Potosi, Department, Bolivia.

2.4x 1.85x 1.5 cm

$47

A thumbnail of twinned ferberite. Hard to find in thumbnail form, these are usually larger.

BMON10 Monazite

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

4.4x 4.0x 3.4 cm

~~$100~~ $65

A cluster of quartz crystals with several very small, twinned monazites interspersed among them.

I will admit, there is not as much monazite on this one as on some of the others, but it stands out as a very beautiful specimen given the nature of the quartz alone.