Post Tucson Update #2
A selection of new minerals from the Tucson show. As more and more mines turn to increasingly modern mining methods, interesting new material seems to decrease-- yet if you are willing to look around, there are always plenty of cool and unusual new items to be found in Tucson.
Some highlights included here: a specimen of dingdaohengite from a new locality in Malawi with mineralization very similar to Mt. Malosa, Chinese chalcophyllite and analcime, Peruvian pseudomorphs of topaz (!) after augelite, and a brand new pocket of very rich hutchinsonite specimens.
List
Grid
2T1501 Pezzottaite
Sakavalana mine, Ambatovita, Mandrosonoro area, Ambatofinandrahana District, Amoron'i Mania Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
2.5x 2.1x 0.8 cm
$1000
A large and deeply colored crystal of this exceedingly rare cesium-bearing mineral. The type material was discovered in Madagascar in 2002, and a very small number of morganites from Afghanistan were subsequently found to also be pezzottaite-- apart from that however, this mineral has not been found anywhere else.
I have been to Madagascar three times, and have not had the opportunity to buy any of this material there-- of the perhaps 8 pieces I have seen in the country, none had crystals bigger than 4 mm and I am pretty sure the local dealers were just imagining the pezzottaite on a couple of them... Of course that was in Madagascar, and better pieces from the original find are available on the Western market. Even compared to those however this is a pretty good piece-- only a few of the pieces pictured on Mindat even cross the 1.5 cm mark.
2T1502 Plumbogummite ps. Pyromorphite
Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China
4.4x 2.4x 2.1 cm
$385
An excellent miniature from one of the major finds of the last several months. Both pyromorphite and plumbogummite have long been known from the Daoping-Yangshuo area, but specimens of these interesting partial pseudomorphs first started to trickle out around September of 2014.
There have been three main habits-- large hoppered pyromophites replaced and coated to varying extent by plumbogummite, smaller hexagonal pyromorphites that grade from green to blue along the main axis of the crystals, and lastly, examples like the one pictured here.
This is an excellent miniature from the find.
2T1503 Dingdaohengite
Mulanje Massif, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi
7.1x 0.7x 0.5 cm
$620
An incredibly rare example of the rare earth bearing silicate dingdaohengite, cosisting of a ~5.5 mm crystal perched on the side of a spray of aegirine crystals. There were a very small number of these samples available in Tucson this year, discovered at a new locality near the more famous Mt. Malosa location.
The mineral was first discovered in the Bayan Obo REE deposits and was approved by the IMA in 2005, though the samples from this find are probably some of the best (and certainly among the few macroscopic crystals) around.
2T1508 Plumbogummite ps. Pyromorphite
Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China
5.3x 3.5x 3.0 cm
$350
A specimen from the recent find of plumbogummite after pyromorphite. This piece consists of hoppered pyromorphite crystals that are both coated and partially pseudomorphed to plumbogummite.
Pieces from this occurrence first started to trickle out around September of 2014.
2T1509 Chalcophyllite
Lincang Prefecture, Yunnan Prov., China
4.2x 3.5x 2.1 cm
$350
A specimen from a small new Chinese find of chalcophyllite. This brightly colored arsenate species is best known from Cornwall and the Majuba Hill mine in Utah (perhaps the easiest examples of the species to obtain) but this piece is from recent Chinese workings.
They are admittedly a bit pricey for the size, but given that it's a new species for the country (at least as far as specimens go) and that the quality was just about as good as either of the two other well known locations, I figured I'd buy a couple to offer here.
2T1511 Chalcophyllite
Lincang Prefecture, Yunnan Prov., China
3.9x 0.9x 2.3 cm
$130
A specimen from a small new Chinese find of chalcophyllite. This brightly colored arsenate species is best known from Cornwall and the Majuba Hill mine in Utah (perhaps the easiest examples of the species to obtain) but this piece is from recent Chinese workings.
This piece has a number of crystals on on of the side edges.
2T1512 Analcime
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
7.0x 5.6x 6.3 cm
$385
A specimen of analcime from another new Chinese find-- I have not seen the species from China previously.
This is a matrix specimen hosting quite a few very transparent crystals, from the prolific Fengjiashan (also called Daye) mine-- better known for its inesites, hubeites, coppers, etc.
2T1513 Analcime
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
7.2x 5.4x 4.1 cm
$335
A specimen of analcime from another new Chinese find-- I have not seen the species from China previously.
This is a matrix specimen hosting quite a few very transparent crystals, from the prolific Fengjiashan (also called Daye) mine-- better known for its inesites, hubeites, coppers, etc.
2T1514 Analcime
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
7.2x 4.0x 4.0 cm
$335
A specimen of analcime from another new Chinese find-- I have not seen the species from China previously.
This is a matrix specimen hosting a single fairly transparent crystal on a cluster of calcite crystals coated by something else (quartz? apophyllite?)
This piece comes from the prolific Fengjiashan (also called Daye) mine-- better known for its inesites, hubeites, coppers, etc.
2T1515 Analcime
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
4.0x 3.1x 2.3 cm
$150
A specimen of analcime from another new Chinese find-- I have not seen the species from China previously.
This is a matrix specimen hosting quite a single rather transparent crystal, from the prolific Fengjiashan (also called Daye) mine-- better known for its inesites, hubeites, coppers, etc.
2T1516 Analcime
Fengjiashan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
3.5x 2.5x 2.4 cm
$165
A specimen of analcime from another new Chinese find-- I have not seen the species from China previously.
This is a matrix specimen hosting a couple rather transparent crystals, from the prolific Fengjiashan (also called Daye) mine-- better known for its inesites, hubeites, coppers, etc.
2T1520 Wulfenite with Aegirine
Mulanje Massif, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi
4.1x 2.3x 2.0 cm
$0
A wulfenite specimen from a new find at a new locality near the better known Mt. Malosa locality. This is either the first or second recorded occurrence of wulfenite in Malawi, either way it's incredibly rare material and I figured with the number of wulfenite collectors out there, these would appeal to somebody.
This is my favorite piece of those that I selected, the ball of crude wulfenites joins two aegirine crystals into a nice, sculptural little miniature.
Given it's size, there is surprisingly little wulfenite reported from Africa-- aside from Tsumeb, M'Fouati and a couple localities in Morocco, very little of the species comes from the continent
2T1522 Wulfenite with Aegirine
Mulanje Massif, Chilwa Alkaline Area, Malawi
2.9x 2.6x 2.6 cm
$0
A wulfenite specimen from a new find at a new locality near the better known Mt. Malosa locality. This is either the first or second recorded occurrence of wulfenite in Malawi, either way it's incredibly rare material (despite the wulfenite itself being a little crude) and I figured with the number of wulfenite collectors out there, these would appeal to somebody.
Given it's size, there is surprisingly little wulfenite reported from Africa-- aside from Tsumeb, M'Fouati and a couple localities in Morocco, very little of the species comes from the continent
2T1523 Topaz ps. Augelite
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Sanchez Carrion Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
3.6x 1.9x 1.7 cm
$185
Another very unusual new find from Peru-- pseudomorphs of topaz (!) after augelite from Mundo Nuevo. Actually, depending on the piece, there are varying degrees of topaz replacing or simply forming a cast where the augelite used to be.
This one is more of a hollow cast, but very clearly retains the shape of what was once a very sizable augellite crystal. According to Jaroslav Hyrsl (who also had a few of these available at the show) and who is an expert on Peruvian minerals, this is the first recorded occurrence of Topaz in Peru.
2T1524 Topaz ps. Augelite
Mundo Nuevo Mine, Mundo Nuevo, Sanchez Carrion Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
3.1x 2.7x 2.1 cm
$0
Another very unusual new find from Peru-- pseudomorphs of topaz (!) after augelite from Mundo Nuevo. Actually, depending on the piece, there are varying degrees of topaz replacing or simply forming a cast where the augelite used to be.
This one is more of a hollow cast, but very clearly retains the shape of what was once a very sizable augellite crystal. According to Jaroslav Hyrsl (who also had a few of these available at the show) and who is an expert on Peruvian minerals, this is the first recorded occurrence of Topaz in Peru.
You can still see a bit of faint green on the bottom of this one, a last remnant of the augellite that was once there.
2T1525 Gold
Lima Deptarmtment., Peru
3.0x 2.2x 2.3 cm
$350
Filamentary bits of gold on matrix, from Peru. For all the Gold found in the Peruvian mountains, specimens are rarely seen-- in fact, you are much more likely to see artifacts made from the stuff, than actual specimens of the raw material.
This is a decent thumbnail sized sample.
2T1526 Xenotime
Novo Horizonte, Bahia, Brazil
3.9x 1.45x 1.1 cm
$220
A rather large xenotime crystal from Brazil-- they are always available, but are usually don't make it to this size.
2T1527 Titanite var. Sphene
Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistan
3.2x 2.5x 1.5 cm
$120
A nice titanite sample from a recent pocket unearthed in Alchuri. The brownish hues are more typical of pieces from Mulla Ghori (where I thought this was from) but it's from the old Alchuri deposit.
2T1528 Hambergite
Shengus, Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan
4.0x 0.6x 0.2 cm
$200
A prismatic crystal of this hydrous beryllium borate from northern Pakistan. The crystal is terminated-- between the white crystal, black background and bright lights however, the contrast somewhat overwhelmed my camera's ability to capture the finer details...
2T1529 Hambergite
Shengus, Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan
2.9x 0.9x 0.8 cm
$165
A prismatic crystal of this hydrous beryllium borate from northern Pakistan. The crystal is terminated-- between the white crystal, black background and bright lights however, the contrast somewhat overwhelmed my camera's ability to capture the finer details...
2T1530 Hambergite
Shengus, Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan
2.5x 0.5x 0.1 cm
$125
A thumbnail specimen consisting of a prismatic crystal of this hydrous beryllium borate from northern Pakistan. The crystal is terminated-- between the white crystal, black background and bright lights however, the contrast somewhat overwhelmed my camera's ability to capture the finer details...
2T1531 Hambergite
Shengus, Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan
2.2x 0.8x 0.1 cm
$100
A thumbnail specimen consisting of a prismatic crystal of this hydrous beryllium borate from northern Pakistan. T
2T1532 Scandian Ixiolite
Namivu Pegmatite, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
1.3x 1.3x 0.6
$85
A thumbnail of scandian ixiolite from Mozambique displaying the typical hemispherical form.
2T1533 Scandian Ixiolite
Namivu Pegmatite, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
1.3x 1.3x 0.6
$5
A thumbnail of scandian ixiolite from Mozambique displaying the typical hemispherical form.
2T1534 Scandian Ixiolite
Namivu Pegmatite, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
1.4x 1.3x 0.8 cm
$85
A thumbnail of scandian ixiolite from Mozambique displaying the typical hemispherical form.
2T1535 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
9.4x 7.2x 3.0 cm
$1250
An exceptionally rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
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2T1537 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
7.4x 4.6x 2.8 cm
$490
An exceptionally rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on matrix.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
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2T1538 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
6.5x 6.9x 3.3 cm
$700
An exceptionally rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
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2T1540 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
9.5x 5.6x 3.3 cm
$480
An exceptionally rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment (please note, the orpiment on the reverse is darker and closer to brown than shown in the picture).
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
2T1541 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
7.2x 5.5x 4.1 cm
$435
An exceptionally rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
2T1542 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
7.0x 5.5x 3.6 cm
$395
An rich specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
2T1544 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
6.0x 4.5x 4.0 cm
$190
An specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
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2T1545 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
5.0x 4.8x 3.3 cm
$185
A specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment. (Please note that the orpiment is darker and closer to brown than shown in the pictures)
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
2T1546 Hutchinsonite
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
5.2x 3.3x 4.7 cm
$120
A specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting numerous bright crystals sprinkled on a matrix of matte gray sulfides and dark orpiment. (Please note that the orpiment is darker and closer to brown than the pictures show.)
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
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2T1547 Hutchinsonite with Orpiment
Quiruvilca Dist., Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept., Peru
5.6x 2.4x 3.5 cm
$145
A specimen of this rare thallium bearing mineral, hosting a cluster of bright crystals on matrix. The crystals are visible from the side shown directly below the description.
Please note that the orpiment is darker and closer to brown than the pictures show, and that there is scuffing to the orpiment. The point of the specimen however, is the hutchinsonite, not the orpiment.
Most of the hutchinsonite specimens in collections were recovered from this locality in the 70's and 80's, though over the last 2-3 years I have seen examples from more recent workings. I obtained one lot a few months ago, then this one right after Tucson. The pieces from this second lot are much closer in appearance to the old time pieces.
Hutchinsonite is a sulfide of thallium, lead, and arsenic and is probably one of the few minerals containing thallium that you can actually find a decent specimen of.
2T1548 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
1.7x 1.3x 1.3 cm
$400
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France. The diagonal measures 1.7 cm, the edges are 1.3 cm.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1550 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
0.95x 0.85x 0.8 cm
$90
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France. The diagonal measures 0.95 cm, the edges are approximately 0.8 cm.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1551 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
0.95x 0.7x 0.8 cm
$90
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France. The diagonal measures 0.95 cm, the edges are 0.7-0.8 cm.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1552 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
1.2x 0.95x 0.9
$95
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite crystals from Chessy, France.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1553 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
1.2x 0.8x 0.65 cm
$85
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite crystals from Chessy, France.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1554 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
1.1x 0.8x 0.85 cm
$90
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France. The diagonal measures 1.1 cm, the edges are approximately 0.8-0.85 cm.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1555 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone Alpes, France
1.15x 0.9x 0.85 cm
$95
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
2T1556 Malachite ps. Cuprite
Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France
1.0x 0.85x 0.8 cm
$90
A pseudomorph of malachite after cuprite from Chessy, France. The diagonal measures 0.95 cm, the edges are approximately 0.8 cm.
This deposit was worked for hundreds of years, until 1875. Although the mine has been closed for some time, these pseudos have since been intermittently collected off the dumps that were left behind. Today, they are considered European classics.
