CCY1 Carrolite

Kamoya South II Mine, Kamoya, Kambove, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo

6.1x 4.7x 4.8 cm

$78

A bright carrolite crystal in a calcite matrix, from Congo.  There is a chip on the crystal that is more visible in the pictures than in person, but for the price, it's an excellent specimen. 

CCY2 Smithsonite

Refugio Mine, Choix, Mun. de Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

8.0x 4.6x 4.3 cm

$68

A bluish green layer of smithsonite on matrix, from finds made several years ago.  Not much comes out these days, and the blues/ green are a bit harder to find than the pinks. 

CCY3 Spodumene var. Kunzite

Minas Gerais, Brazil

9.2x 3.8x 1.0 cm

$88

A well formed, nearly colorless crystal of sharply terminated spodumene from Brazil. 

CCY4 Silver

White Pine Mine, Ontonagon Co., Michigan, United States

4.1x 2.5x 2.4 cm

$88

A cluster of silver crystals from the one of the classic northern Michicag localities.  Very cheap for what it is.

CCY5 Fluorite

Near Nasik, Maharashtra State, India

3.5x 3.0x 0.9 cm

$46

A group of reddish fluorite hemispheres on a quartz plate, some partially overgrown with a thin layer of quartz of apophyllite.  Red fluorites are some of the rarer specimens from India-- the most common are yellow.

CCY6 Chrysocolla

Morenci Mine, Greenlee Co., Arizona, United States

8.6x 6.6x 2.7 cm

$69

A bright blue-green specimen of chrysocolla from 80's finds in Arizona.  Successive generations of the mineral provide a bit of contrast.

CCY7 Calcite, Chalcopyrite

Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

14.0x 9.5x 6.1 cm

$69

A very beautiful cabinet specimen of calcite, on a matrix speckled with small iridescent chalcopyrite crystals.  This comes from finds made at the Sweetwater Mine within the last couple years.

CCY112 Wavellite

Montgomery County Quarry, Mauldin Mt., Montgomery Co., Arkansas, United States

9.8x 7.0x 7.0 cm

$69

A rich specimen, hosting a vug lined with waxy wavellite.  

Arkansas wavellites are considered to be among the best in the world, but  these days almost none is found due to collecting restrictions.  This specimen dates back a couple decades.  

CCY8 Spinel

Mogok, Burma

6.9x 3.5x 3.2 cm

$43

A bright pink spinel octahedron on white marble.

CCY9 Cyanotrichite

Dachang Pollymetalic Ore Field, Nandan Co., Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang, China

3.3x 2.8x 2.0 cm

$59

A cluster of bright blue cyanotrichite hairs from a find made 5-6 years ago.

CCY10 Malachite, Olivenite

Ibiajara, Bahia, Brazil

5.0x 4.2x 3.2 cm

$48

An interesting specimen of malachite from Brazil, with a few (very small) olivenite needles scattered on the limonite. I suspect there is olivenite beneath the malachite as well.

This piece comes from a limited find made a few years ago.

CCY11 Cerussite

Touissit, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco

5.0x 2.7x 3.0 cm

$68

A cerussite "snowflake" or "sixling" from Morocco, perched on another crystal of cerussite.

CCY12 Mimetite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

5.7x 3.9x 2.0 cm

$68

A very bright yellow mimetite from Mina Ojuela.  I'm not sure exactly when it was found, but it is not from any of the most recent finds.

CCY13 Azurite

Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia

1.8x 1.8x 1.6 cm

$59

A decent azurite thumbnail from Tsumeb.  As you can see, there are a couple chips, but the price more than takes this into account.

CCY14 Silver

Keeweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, United States

3.5x 2.7x 1.3 cm

$69

A bright chink of silver with some crude crystals visible (see bottom right image), from the classic Northern Michigan area. 

CCY15 Calcite on Quartz

Harrodsburg, Indiana, United States

15.2x 7.0x 7.8 cm

$69

A cabinet specimen hosting a terminated, colorless calcite crystal on a quartz lined matrix.

Although seldom seen at the large shows, interesting local calcites tend to turn up at smaller events in the Midwest, often collected by local field collectors.  This is just such a specimen, from somewhere near Harrodsburg, Indiana.

Apart from being good calcites, I like to post these as they show the diversity of a largely overlooked group of minerals (Midwestern Calcites-- if they are not from southern Illinois or Elmwood, no one cares).

The white-on-white makes for poor contrast in the photograph, but the calcite is nowhere near as invisible in person.  There are internal cleaves that are more visible in person, but no damage.

CCY16 Red Quartz, Dolomite

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

15.0x 12.5x 4.6 cm

$83

A large cabinet specimen of reddish quartz, partially overgrown with dolomite, from finds made approximately 4-5 years ago. 

CCY17 Fluorite

Buranpur, Madhya Pradesh State, India

8.1x 5.0x 4.1 cm

$56

A yellow fluorite glob on a quartz matrix.  Some internal fractures to the fluorite, but it's still a pretty good size.

CCY18 Spessartine Garnet

Wuhan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

7.8x 8.0x 2.8 cm

$68

Numerous bright orange garnets on a feldspar matrix.  The first examples were discovered in the early 2000's, and the locality was gradually exhaused.  In addition to these garnets, the locality is also notable for helvite, smokey quartz, and fluorite.

CCY19 Anglesite

Touissit, Toussit District, Oujada-Angad Province, Oriental Region, Morocco

3.8x 3.2x 2.2 cm

$48

A sharp anglesite crystal perched on top of a bit of matrix.

CCY20 Quartz var. Amethyst

Irai, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

8.2x 6.8x 2.5 cm

$43

An amethyst "flower" from the basaltic cavities around Irai, which are also the source of many of the amethyst geodes that turn up in gift and craft stores.

CCY21 Apophyllite, Stilbite

Nasik Area, Maharashtra State, India

26.0x 13.5x 5.7 cm

$88

A large cabinet specimen, hosting a few light green apophyllite crystals, along with several pastel colored stilbites.  The green color of Indian  apophyllite varies with the vanadium content.

CCY22 Smithsonite

Refugio Mine, Choix, Mun. de Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

6.5x 5.0x 3.7cm

$58

A decently sized specimen of pink smithsonite from Sinaloa.  This piece was found several years ago, as none has been found in a while.

CCY23 Mottramite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

12.7x 10.5x 4.7 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 $300. When it comes to Mina Ojuela, it often pays to wait.... 

CCY23 Galena, Dolomite (Spinel Twins!)

Big Bear Orebody, Fletcher Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States

9.0x 4.4x 4.6 cm

$63

A very rare (for the Viburnum Trend)  spinel twined galena from a small find at the Fletcher Mine.  Spinel twinned galenas are typically known from Dal'Negorsk or Madan, but there are only 2 preserved finds of this material from the Viburnum Trend in recent memory.  This is a nice reference piece.

CCY24 Topaz

Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan

8.0x 3.7x 3.7 cm

$88

A terminated, light brown topaz crystal attached to a chunk of quartz.

CCY25 Galena, Sphalerite

Picher, Oklahoma, Tri-State District, United States 

(Pre-1967)

5.9x 4.0x 3.0 cm

$49

A galena crystal on a chert matrix.  Small, but very nicely arranged.  

 This specimen dates to before 1967, when the last mine in the Tri-State district closed (unlike the Viburnum Trend specimens which are the product of current mining)

CCY26 Calcite, Pyrite

Fletcher Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

11.5x 6.7x 8.5 cm

$49

A well arranged cabinet specimen of calcite perched on a  sculptural pyrite matrix. 

CCY27 Wavellite

Montgomery County Quarry, Mauldin Mt., Montgomery Co., Arkansas, United States

9.2x 6.6x 4.3 cm

$59

A rich specimen hosting numerous wavellite hemispheres.  Several are sheared in half, though I think wavellite is one of the few minerals that benefits from this, as it becomes possible to see the varying shades of green in the concentric growths. 

Arkansas wavellites are considered to be among the best in the world, but  these days almost none is found due to collecting restrictions.  This specimen dates back a couple decades.  

CCY28 Spinel

Mogok, Burma

5.2x 5.5x 4.0 cm

$39

A bright pink spinel octahedron on white marble.

CCY29 Calcite

Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio

10.6x 9.4x 8.3 cm

$66

A nice sample of orange calcite from another Midwestern locality whose specimens are seldom seen at the larger shows, or internationally.  This piece displays as shown, but is sheared on the bottom and back.

CCY30 Smithsonite

Refugio Mine, Choix, Mun. de Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

7.2x 5.2x 4.6 cm

$69

A decently sized specimen of pink smithsonite from Sinaloa, with a great waxy luster.  This piece was found several years ago, as none has been found in a while.

CCY31 Adamite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

3.1x 2.1x 1.2 cm

$48

A beautiful adamite thumbnail, hosting a bright yellow hemisphere on a bit of limonite matrix.

CCY32 Calcite

Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

17.0x 10.4x 6.8 cm

$79

A large cabinet calcite crystal from recent finds at the Viburnum Trend.  The termination is complete, and the base is sheared at an angle.

CCY33 Lazurite

Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada

3.4x 2.3x 1.4 cm

$58

A nice thumbnail of lustrous, inky blue lazurite crystals.

This locality is located near the northernmost part of the Yukon Territory-- almost near the Arctic Ocean.  The area is best known for its phosphate minerals, including gormanite, kulanite, and vivianite (in addition to the whiteites and lazulites), and is actually the type locality for 12 new species, all but one of them phosphates.

CCY34 Gormanite

Linopolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil

2.3x 2.2x 2.0 cm

$69

A rare sample of this phosphate mineral from Brazil.  Years ago, the only gormanites available came from the same area in Canada as the above lazurite, but a find a few years ago in Brazil produced a number of very nice examples. 

CCY35 Gormanite, Greifensteinite

Linopolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil

2.2x 1.9x 1.3 cm

$69

A rare sample of this phosphate mineral from Brazil.  Years ago, the only gormanites available came from the same area in Canada as the above lazurite, but a find a few years ago in Brazil produced a number of very nice examples. 

This piece consists of multiple sprays, associated with small crystals of reddish-brown greifensteinite.

CCY36 Rhodochrosite

N'chwaning Mine, Kalahari, South Africa

3.8x 3.6x 2.7 cm

$34

A reference sample of rhodochrosite from South Africa.  There is damage, and the crystals are small.  But that's why it's not expensive.

CCY37 Realgar on Quartz

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

4.7x 4.2x 3.3 cm

$38

A cute small miniature specimen of quartz hosting a few small, bright red crystals of realgar.

CCY38 Zircon

Astor, Diamar District., Northern Areas, Pakistan

2.8x 2.3x 2.0 cm

$69

A rather large example of Pakistani zircon, from the Diamar District.  These are usually found on marble and you can see 60-80% of the crystal on those specimens-- but this one is remarkably complete (and sizable) for the location.

CCY39 Stephanite

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.4x 0.9x 0.8 cm

$59

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional definition.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

CCY40 Stephanite

Porco Mine, Agua de Castilla, Quijarro Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia

1.2x 0.8x 0.6 cm

$40

A sharp thumbnail specimen of terminated stephanite, from a recent find at the

Porco Mine, which has been operated since the 1500's.  Simply put, for the species, these are killer thumbnails with exceptional definition.

Those prices are partially attributable to the "classic" status of those pieces.  As this is a new find, these specimens represent an infrequent (and affordable) opportunity to obtain a very good thumbnail specimen of this species, from a historic locality no less.

CCY41 Fluorite, Muscovite

Yaogangxian Mine, Yizhang Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

3.2x 2.6x 2.0 cm

$39

A nice cluster of fluorite cubes with internal phantoms, on a bit of matrix from finds at the Yaogangxian Mine made several years ago..

CCY42 Marcasite, Dolomite, Galena

Fletcher Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

21.0x 10.7x 4.9 cm

$69

A cabinet specimen of marcasite, iridescent in some areas, with numerous small dolomite crystals clinging to the some of the marcasite protrusions.

CCY43 Spinel

Mogok, Burma

6.2x 5.8x 4.0 cm

$48

A spinel octahedron in a marble matrix, from Burma.  There is a chip on the termination (more visible in the close ups than in person), and the price takes this into account.  These seemed to be more plentiful years ago, today I hardly run into them.

CCY44 Vanadinite

Mibladen, Midelt, Khenifra Prov., Morocco.

5.4x 3.6x 2.0 cm

$39

A nice sample of bright orange-red vanadinite from Morocco.

CCY45 Rhodochrosite

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

3.4x 2.5x 1.7 cm

$69

An excellent "toenail" of flattened rhodochrosite "disks" that are comprised of many compacted rhombohedral crystals.  Very good color, from a find made approximately 10 years ago.

CCY46 Tennantite on Enargite

Julcani Mine, Julcani District, Angaraes Province, Huancavelica Department, Peru

4.5x 4.1x 2.8 cm

$63

An eneragite crystal coated with tennantite.  The label said it was a pseudomorph (which may be partially true of the smaller crystals) but looking at the cross section visible on the bottom of the specimen the tennantite appears to be more of a coating.  This piece likely dates to the 80's or early 90's.

CCY47 Cerussite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

5.0x 4.1x 2.0 cm

$69

A number of sharp smoky cerussite crystals on matrix.  Cerussite has never been particularly common at Mina Ojuela, but there was recently a sizable find of the material.  

Mexican mineral collectors highly prize Ojuela cerussites, and when you actually do see one, it will often be priced at a premium.  

This one is a particularly good miniature from the find.

CCY48 Mottramite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

7.3x 4.2x 1.5 cm

$48

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.

CCY49 Pyrite

Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China

7.0x 5.3x 2.5 cm

$38

One of those interesting Chinese pyrite specimens that consists of a cluster of small crystals, whose outer rim has been overgrown by larger crystals.  These things ALWAYS turn up in the Chinese-run tents at the larger show,s and for whatever reason I always just walk past them (perhaps it's a subconscious pyrite/ tent/ common mineral prejudice?)  They are kind of neat though, and this one doesn't have any of the cracks that I usually see... 

CCY50 Hemimorphite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

7.2x 6.6x 3.6 cm

$37

A hemimorphite specimen from Mina Ojuela.  A few crystals will undoubtedly break off in shipment.

CCY51 Chabazite

Glenariff Valley, Garron Plateau, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

5.1x 3.6x 2.5 cm

$36

A zeolite specimen from Northern Ireland.  I always see European field collectors discussing these on message boards, but they never seem to turn up for sale here in the US.  It's nothing particularly fancy, but I thought it was interesting.  Plus, chabazite is one of the zeollites that India has NOT exported by the ton (you are much more likely to see one from Canada or New Jersey).

CCY52 Chalcocite

Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, Rusk Co., Wisconsin, USA 

3.1x 3.2x 1.9 cm

$47

A nice reference sample of chalcocite from Wisconsin.  Unlike most, the main crystals on this piece are moderately distinct-- I usually see near-massive globs of the stuff with ridges on the surface that are somehow supposed to look like crystals...

CCY53 Wulfenite

Red Cloud Mine, Trigo Mtns., La Paz Co., Arizona, United States

4.6x3.6x 1.7 cm

$33

A reference sample of wulfenite from this classic American locality.

CCY54 Quartz

Casteel #35 Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

7.1x 5.3x 1.7 cm

$22

So yes, this is just a piece of quartz.  The reason I am posting it however, is because it comes from the Viburnum Trend.  Just about every sample that I have ever seen from the area is either galena, calcite, or marcasite-- so I figured this was unusual enough to post.  

Also, it is worth noting that the actual mine name was recorded-- 95% of the specimens from the area (unless from a notable find) are simply labeled as "Viburnum Trend."

CCY55 Epidote, Quartz

Green Monster Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, United States

3.6x 2.2x 1.9 cm

$43

A sample of epidote from the classic Green Monster Mountain locality, hosting a number of small quartz crystals on its termination.

The base is slanted, but that is the crystal's natural surface (except at the bottom tip, where there is a point of attachment)

CCY56 Smithsonite

Lavrion District, Attiki Prefecture, Greece

4.6x 3.2x 1.7 cm

$39

A sample of smithsonite from the classic Lavrion District.

CCY57 Calcite

Santa Eualia, Mexico

8.2x 4.1x 3.6 cm

$46

A nice sample of lustrous calcite from Mexico.

CCY58 Fluorite on Siderite

Yindu Silver Mine, Bayan Obo, Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

6.6x 3.7x 1.8 cm

$79

A specimen of purple fluorite on siderite from new production at the Yido Silver Mine.  To the untrained eye, this looks like a typical Yaogangxian specimen, but a slightly closer look reveals that the matrix is in fact siderite (rather than muscovite.)

I was offered a small group of specimens prior to Tucson which I declined due to the exorbitant prices, though I was happy to see one small lot available in Tucson as well. 

There is one bit of damage, this is best visible in the image directly below the description on the second-farthest crystal to the right.

Pieces like this are exciting because they come from a location that had previously not produced specimens. The bulk of the currently available Inner Mongolian pieces come from only 3 or 4 mine clusters ( mainly Huanggang, Rongguan and Chaobuleng)-- over 200 such mines and mine clusters have been opened over the past several years.  That pieces like this make it to the market means that there is a chance that a greater portion of those 200+ locations will eventually start to produce collectible specimens.

CCY59 Tetrahedrite, Realgar, Quartz 

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Sanchez Carrion Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru

9.4x 5.8x 5.5 cm

$79

A cluster of tetrahedrite crystals, with a number of white quartz crystals interspersed among them.

Although not particularly sizable or numerous, the small bits of realgar stand out and are worth noting, as there was a single, rather limited find of the mineral at the site approximately 1.5 years ago.  The majority of the realgar specimens occurred with quartz, I only saw a couple with a tetrahedrite/ realgar association.

CCY60 Inesite

N'Chwaning I Mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

3.8x 3.0x 2.1 cm

$44

A nice sample of inesite from South Africa.  Inesite is known from 3 primary locations: Hale Creek, California, the Fengjiashan Mine in China, and this locality in South Africa.  The Fengjiashan find ocurred in the mid 2000's and was very short lived, Hale Creek has not produced specimens in decades.

CCY61 Topaz

Sherlovaya Gora, Adun-Cholon Range, Nerchinsk Gem mines, Nerchinsk, Chitinskaya Oblast', Transbaikalia, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

1.9x 1.0x 0.65 cm

$29

A sharp thumbnail of scarce Russian topaz.

CCY62 Epistilbite with Julgoldite

Near Nasik, Maharashtra State, India

6.4x 3.7x 2.9 cm

$49

A nice specimen of one of the rarer Deccan zeolites, situated in a vug lined by a second rare Deccan mineral: julgoldite.

CCY63 Manganocalcite

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

3.9x 2.6x 2.2 cm

$58

A cluster of manganocalcite crystals from the same find that produced the V-twinned thumbnails a couple years ago. This is a harder to find miniature specimen.

CCY64 Quartz, Manganocalcite

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

6.2x 6.0x 7.3 cm

$68

A nice specimen from finds made approximately 2 years ago at the Huanggang mine. This piece hosts several quartz crystals on a manganocalcite rhomb, which has been overgrown by a second generation of platy manganocalcite. 

CCY65 Quartz, Fluorite

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

8.5x 5.7x 7.1 cm

$47

A reference specimen of quartz with fluorite from recent finds at the Huanggang mine.  There is damage,  and the price takes this into account.

CCY66 Scheelite

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

4.9x 3.7x 2.1 cm

$64

A specimen of scheelite from the Huanggang Mine.  The piece displays well from the front, but as with virtually all of these, it formed flat against its matrix-- you can see the effect in the bottom right image.

CCY67 Calcite

Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

12.2x 6.8x 3.8 cm

$48

A nice cabinet specimen, with a double terminated calcite crystal on a matrix speckled by hundreds of small lightly iridescent chalcopyrite crystals.

CCY68 Schorl Tourmaline

Santa Cruz, Sonora, Mexico

4.9x 4.6x 3.2 cm

$48

An unusual, but very well formed schorl specimen from Mexico.  This piece is about as good as they get for the size.

CCY69 Zircon

Chimney Rock, North Carolina, United States

1.4x 1.35x 1.1 cm

$29

A single crystal of zircon from North Carolina.

CCY70 Calcite

Manon, Indiana, United States

5.2x 5.5x 3.6 cm

$34

Although seldom seen at the large shows, interesting local calcites tend to turn up at smaller events in the Midwest, often collected by local field collectors.  This is just such a specimen, from somewhere near Manon, Indiana.

Apart from being good calcites, I like to post these as they show the diversity of a largely overlooked group of minerals (Midwestern Calcites-- if they are not from southern Illinois or Elmwood, no one cares).

CCY71 Calcite

Basalt Quarry, Ambariomiambana, Sambava Dist., Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar

6.3x 4.3x 2.0 cm

$68

A nice sample of calcite from the famous Malagasy find made a few years back.  There are a couple small nicks on the edges, but the piece is exactly as shown in the pictures.

CCY72 Calcite

Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

8.0x 5.0x 4.5 cm

$37

A sample of calcite from recent finds at the Viburnum Trend District.

CCY73 Danburite

Charcas, Mun. de Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

6.5x 4.2x 3.1 cm

$39

A danburite crystal, partially overgrown with a druse of another mineral (calcite?) from Mexico.

CCY74 Chalcopyrite

Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Missouri, United States

13.3x 5.7x 3.1 cm

$39

A big piece of matrix hosting numerous iridescent chalcopyrite crystals.

CCY75 Realgar, Sphalerite on Quartz

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

7.3x 5.2x 3.3 cm

$39

A quartz cluster with sphalerite and bits (not really proper crystals) of realgar.  The bright red color does make it eye catching... 

CCY76 Realgar on Quartz

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

10.0x 5.2x 3.2 cm

$42

A cluster of quartz crystals, lightly dusted on one side with microscopic sulfides, with a few realgar crystals mixed in.

CCY77 Spessartine Garnet, Quartz

Wuhan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

5.4x 4.0x 3.3 cm

$39

A miniature specimen hosting hundreds of orange garnets and a smoky quartz crystal, from the famous Wuhan Spesartine Mine that produced specimens for much of the early 2000's.

CCY78 Legrandite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

5.3x 2.7x 2.4 cm

$39

A partial legrandite crystal on matrix.  This is probably the most sought after mineral from Mina Ojuela-- obviously for $39 you are not getting the Aztec Sun, but it's still a very good (and rare) opportunity to get a cheap sample of the mineral.

CCY79 Smithsonite

Refugio Mine, Choix, Mun. de Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

3.9x 3.2x 2.3 cm

$43

A beautiful light green sample of lustrous smithsonite.  The greens and blues are harder to find than the pinks, especially now that the mines have not produced specimens for several years.

CCY80 Quartz var. Amethyst

Baobab Mine, Kitui District, Eastern Province, Kenya

4.2x 3.6x 3.0 cm

$39

A nice sample of amethyst from an unusual locality. The piece has a couple nicks on the edges though the bottom is a complex termination. Plenty of specimens come from Tanzania, but neighboring Kenya produces very little in the way of mineral specimens...

CCY81 Wavellite

Montgomery County Quarry, Mauldin Mt., Montgomery Co., Arkansas, United States

5.9x 5.4x 2.7 cm

$46

A sample of very bright green (a bit more than the pictures show) wavellite from Arkansas.

Arkansas wavellites are considered to be among the best in the world, but  these days almost none is found due to collecting restrictions.  This specimen dates back a couple decades.  

CCY82 Skutterudite

Bouismas Mine, Bou Azzer, Morocco

4.4x 1.8x 4.3 cm

$69

A sharp and lustrous skutterudite crystal, perched on a matrix of massive skutterudite.

CCY83 Chromian Dravite (Tourmaline)

Mogok, Burma

1.3x 1.15x 1.0 cm

$68

A thumbnail example of green chromian dravite, from a find made several years ago.

CCY84 Pyrite

Dallas Area, Texas

5.7x 5.0x 4.8 cm

$46

A cluster of pyrite crystals from the Dallas Area.

CCY85 Garnet

Ialamitana, Sahanivotry, Near Antsirabe, Madagascar

4.4x 2.4x 2.9 cm

$39

A garnet on matrix from Madagascar.

CCY86 Pharmacosiderite

Majuba Hill Mine, Pershing Co., Nevada, United States

5.1x 4.0x 3.2 cm

$39

Numerous green crystals of this potassium iron arsenate on matrix, from the Majuba Hill Mine.  This locality is known for producing a wide variety of arsenates, in addition to which it is the type locality for 2 of the over 100 species found at the mine.

CCY87 Pharmacosiderite

Majuba Hill Mine, Pershing Co., Nevada, United States

4.4x 3.5x 1.8 cm

$33

Numerous green crystals of this potassium iron arsenate on matrix, from the Majuba Hill Mine.  This locality is known for producing a wide variety of arsenates, in addition to which it is the type locality for 2 of the over 100 species found at the mine.

CCY88 Bahianite

Pico das Almas River, Paramirim das Crioulas, Erico Cardoso, Bahia, Brazil

0.5x 0.4x 0.3 cm

$39

A very small nugget of the rare mineral bahianite, a potassium antimonate that is almost exclusively found as river rounded nuggets. 

 Exactly how one separates a single ~5 mm nugget from the millions of tons of other river gravel that look exactly like it is beyond me, but I assume it has something to do with density and patience....

CCY89 Osumulite

Funtanafigu Quarry, Marrubiu, Mt. Arci, Oristano Prov., Sardinia, Italy

6.8x 4.1x 3.0 cm

$34

Microscopic crystals of this rare sillicate mineral on matrix.  The type locality is in Japan.

CCY90 Tsumcorite

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

5.2x 4.0x 2.3 cm

$54

A dusting of microscopic crystals of this rare lead, zinc, iron arsenate from Mina Ojuela.  This species most often turns up as an accessory on specimens from Tsumeb (it gets its name from the Tsumeb CORportation.)

CCY91 Pascoite

Slick Rock District, Dolores Co., Colorado, USA

6.4x 3.0x 2.8 cm

$39

An orange dusting of this rare calcium vanadate on marix.

CCY92 Pascoite

Slick Rock District, Dolores Co., Colorado, USA

5.7x 4.7x 1.6 cm

$46

An orange dusting of this rare calcium vanadate on martix.  Quite rich.

CCY93 Segnitite, Tsumcorite, Mimetite, 

Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

5.2x 3.4x 3.6 cm

$58

An unusual specimen from Ojuela, hosting numerous prismatic mimetites along with powdery segnitite and the odd bit of darker brown tsumcorite.

CCY94 Pyrite, Quartz, Sphalerite

Huaron Mines, Cerro de Pasco, Daniel Alcaldes Carrion Prov., Peru
7.0x 6.1x 5.1 cm 
$46

A specimen of pyrite with quartz and sphalerite 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.

CCY95 Quartz (Japan Law Twin)

Naru Island, Goto, Nagasaki Pref., Japan

1.8x 1.4x 0.2 cm

$56

A nice thumbnail of Japan law quartz that is actually from Japan.

CCY96 Vanadinite on Barite

Mibladen, Midelt, Khenifra Prov., Morocco.

4.3x 3.8x 1.8 cm

$39

A nice sample of bright red vanadinite on barite, from Morocco.

CCY97 Andradite var. Demantoid

Antetezambato, Ambanja Dist., Diana Region, Antsiranana Prov., Madagascar

4.5x 2.8x 2.6 cm

$59

A crystal of demantoid on matrix, from the find made around 2010.  The color varies from greenish in sunlight (pictured) to a brownish under incandescent lighting.

CCY98 Tellurium

Moctezuma Mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico

4.6x 3.0x 1.8 cm

$52

A tellurium bearing matrix, with possible sonoraite.  The label says sonoraite, but I can't be certain, so I am marking it as tellurium.

CCY99 Mimetite

Santa Eualia District., Mun de Aquiles Serdan, Chihuahua, Mexico

6.0x 4.6x 3.3 cm

$39

Numerous mimetite crystals on a limonite matrix.

CCY100 Wavellite

Montgomery County Quarry, Mauldin Mt., Montgomery Co., Arkansas, United States

5.6x 3.7x 2.7 cm

$27

A bright green sample of wavellite from Arkansas.

CCY101 Apatite

Ipira City, Bahia, Brazil

3.1x 1.5x 1.55 cm

$34

An inky blue crystal of apatite from Brazil.  Interestingly, these have been found to be mildly radioactive.

CCY102 Apatite

Ipira City, Bahia, Brazil

3.6x 1.4x 1.1 cm

$36

An inky blue crystal of apatite from Brazil.  Interestingly, these have been found to be mildly radioactive.

CCY103 Elbaite Tourmaline

Minas Gerais, Brazil

2.9x 1.2x 1.1 cm

$64

A thumbnail example of elbaite tourmaline with a reddish cap.  There is damage to the termination.

CCY104 Blodeite

Soda Lake, San Luis Obispo Co., California

2.4x 1.7x 0.85 cm

$39

A sharp crystal of blodeite from southern California.

CCY106 Ferberite

Tae Hwa Mine, Neungam-ri, Angseong-myeon, Chungju, Chungcheongbukdo, South Korea

3.6x 3.0x 1.1 cm

$43

An old sample of Korean ferberite.  This piece likely dates to the 60's, as the mine closed in 1972.

CCY107 Pyrite

Magma Mine, Superior, Pinal Mts, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA

2.7x 2.4x 2.4 cm

$24

A sharp pair of intertwined pyrite crystals from Arizona.

CCY108 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

0.4x 0.4x 0.4 cm

$36

An inky blue cube of boleite from Mexico.  Boleite is a complex silver bearing halide; the best examples came from the Amalia mine, but microscopic samples are occasionally encountered from Chile.

CCY109 Boleite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico

0.5x 0.4x 0.45 cm

$36

An inky blue cube of boleite from Mexico.  Boleite is a complex silver bearing halide; the best examples came from the Amalia mine, but microscopic samples are occasionally encountered from Chile.

CCY110 Calcite

Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Marmures Co., Romania

3.1x 2.6x 2.7 cm

$39

A cluster of colorless calcite on matrix, from the once prolific Romanian sulfide mines. 

With Romania's entrance the EU in 2007, the main specimen producing mines (and many others) were forced to close as they were not compatible with EU regulations.  Even for some years before that, output had been decreased,  These days the specimens are still seen for sale, just not as often as before, as the mines are sealed shut.

CCY111 Elbaite Tourmaline

Malkhan pegmatite field, Krasnyi Chikoy, Chitinskaya Oblast', Transbaikalia, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

2.0x 0.7x 0.8 cm

$49

A red, well terminated tourmaline from the Malchan pegmatite field in Eastern Siberia. There is no damage; all the edges are sharp and the faces intact.

The Malchan deposit is actually a fairly recent discovery, having been discovered southeast of Lake Baikal (near the Mongolian border) in 1980.  The locality has been producing in small amounts since, though on a scale far smaller than either the Brazilian or Afghan tourmaline deposits.  I will also add that the "warmer" colored tourmalines (reds, yellows, oranges) are known from fewer deposits than the greens and blues (which account for the bulk of the Afghan/Brazilian production.) To my knowlege the main producers of these colors are currently Malchan (where this one is from), and the various pegmatites in Madagascar and Nigeria.