Mixed Minerals !


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SCB01 Pyrite, Fluorite with Calcite
Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China (the label might have been off)
20.3x 16.0x 7.5 cm
$12800

A spectacular large cabinet specimen from he Shangbao Mine.  These are among the most collectible of the various Chinese fluorite varieties, and the stepped cubo-octahedral crystals are among the most distinctive. 

The main crystal measures 4.9 cm-- anything above one inch is generally somewhat harder to get, and at this size, just the main crystal alone is the size of entire specimens of lesser caliber.  The crystal also sits rather nicely on matrix-- often times, even if undamaged, they will sit somewhat awkwardly or have grown up against something else, giving them a somewhat distorted appearance.  The numerous calcite crystals, pyrite cubes, and other small fluorites also make for a nice, well balanced background.

I don't usually offer pieces in this range, but sometimes I come across specimens that I feel are quite solid "investments" (as much as minerals can be) even if I keep them for a while.  Shangbao is one of the more recognized fluorite localities, particularly out of the scores of Chinese locations producing pastel, non-disinct fluorite, and it is a relatively low output mine. Pieces like this have never been especially common, and even today the price in Tucson would already be significantly higher. 









SCB02 Quartz, Calcite with Magnetite Epidote
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
14.8x8.0x 7.7 cm
$685

A very beautiful group of calcite crystals on matrix, from a recent find in Daye County. Although reddish calcites from here are not new, this find was notable for the rather exceptional luster and relative transparency of the crystals.  Sawn on the bottom to stand for display, this piece has a somewhat boat-like appearance, with the main crystals nicely centered on a matrix covered with smaller, reddish-brown calcites.  One of the crystals (front left) is chipped on the bottom, though because of the transparency and angle (and just the amount of sparkle/ reflections on this piece), it is somewhat hard to notice. Really pretty piece. 











SCB03 Azurite
Liufengshan Mine, Guichi District, Chizhou, Anhui, China
9.3x 7.8x 5.6 cm
$695

Like the pastel green Xianghualing fluorite or the scalenohedral Anhui azurite has become one of those "mineralogical constants" that inevitably turns up at every show.....though several months ago they made a discovery that was a cut above.

The luster is almost wet, and the crystal size is somewhat larger than that seen in the usual "blue geodes" lined with tiny crystals. The display face is also damage free, a result of its very slight convex shape.   In recent months I have bought hundreds of these, mainly for wholesale purposes-- this is easily in the top 2 of all the pieces I have gotten. Although I got this several months after the other notable piece, I strongly suspect they are from the same pocket-- even the habit of the malachite highlight is the same.  

As far as good Chinese azurite goes, you've basically got the old Shilu "suns", and then you have these Anhui pieces-- the former almost never had a luster like this.  All in all, just a really great sparkly Chinese azurite 









SCB04 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
9.0x 6.7x 3.7 cm
$395

A beautiful example of chatoyant malachite from China. The top of the formation has scuff free and shows wonderful chatoyant reflections, the bottom (and even sides!) display the wonderful fibrous structure of the malachite.  









SCB05 Barite
Cerro Warihuyn, 2 hours walk from Miraflores, Huamalias. Huanuco, Peru
9.1x 9.1x 5.7 cm
$465

A beautiful barite crystal on a sedimentary matrix.  I found this piece in my basement, I had visited the nearest city to this locality years ago and bought some just to keep in storage.  I still remember racing from Miraflores in an old 1980's Corolla, trying to get to the next town that had a hotel before the sun set on the unlit, unpaved, mountain road without guardrails......

Sawn back, sharp damage free crystal.







SCB06 Dioptase with Chrysocolla
Sanda, Mindouli Area, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
7.8x 5.x 5.5 cm
$650

A rich example of deep green, sparkly dioptase on a chrysocolla rich matrix, from the Sanda area.  









SCB07 Calcite
Daye Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
12.3x 7.7x 6.1 cm
$440

A nice calcite "pagoda" from recent finds in Daye County, this one is quite large and especially sharp.  These were available years ago, then mostly disappeared from the market.  recently there have been a couple new discoveries. 











SCB08 Pyrite with Sphalerite
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru
9.7x 6.6x 6.1 cm
$685

A sculptural pyrite specimen with an exceptional mirror luster and black sphalerite, from an exceptional 2017 find. Although the supply of minerals from Peru has largely dried up, I took annual trips there for the better part of a decade-- in all the time I was going, pyrite was one of the most abundant species available. This 2017 pocket was without a doubt the best quality I had seen-- both for the associations with other minerals (this one has sphalerite, some also had pyrite and chalcopyrite) and well as for the incredible luster.  There is some chipping, displays as shown. 











SCB09 Rhodochrosire
Uchucchacua Mine, Oyon Prov., Lima Dept., Peru
7.1x 4.7x 3.7 cm
$600

A nice example of scalenohedral pink/red rhodochrosite on a nicely contrasting dark matrix.  This is yet another one of those Peruvian minerals that came and went, a consequence of new mine ownership, modernized mining methods, and a pay structure for miners that was good enough that is was no longer worth it to risk being fired for taking out specimens. 

 







SCB09A Barite
Cerro Warihuyn, 2 hours walk from Miraflores, Huamalias. Huanuco, Peru
3.8x 3.2x 1.5 cm
$150

A perfect, sharp lustrous barite crystal on a sliver of matrix, from finds made several years ago Peru.  It really is a perfect miniature, front and back.  Color is closer in the black background, but that doesn't quite convey the transparency.









SCB10 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
7.0x 4.3 x 4.1 cm
$225

A beautiful example of calcite with reddish accents, from a recent find at the Tonglushan Mine.   There is some chipping present to secondary crystals, displays as shown. 

Sawn base. 









SCB11 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
4.6x 3.6x 2.8 cm
$185

A beautiful example of calcite with unusually good luster and transparency, as well as reddish accents, from a recent find at the Tonglushan Mine.   









SCB11A1 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
4.8x 4.8x 2.7 cm
$155

A nice calcite specimen with particularly good transparency and luster, from recent finds att he Tonglushan Mine. Not perfect if you look really closely, but because of the transparency it hides this and looks quite nice.









SCB12 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
7.0x 6.2x 2.8 cm
$175

A nice calcite specimen from recent finds at the Tonglushan Mine, in Daye County. 







SCB12 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
7.6x 5.2x 3.4 cm
$165

A nice example of calcite from recent finds at the Tonglushan Mine. 







SCB14 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
9.2x 6.6x 4.8 cm
$195

A sculptural piece of malachite from recent finds in Guangdong Province.  The chatoyancy isn't as strong on this one, though I liked it because one side (6.9x 5 cm) has a very arboreal appearance-- the stalactitic growths in situ almost combine to give the appearance of a mini-forest.







SCB15 Malachite
Nacheng Ag-Au Deposit, Yangchun Co., Yangjiang, Guangdong Prov,. China
4.5x 3.8x 1.8 cm
$135

A pretty, damage free example of malachite from recent finds in Guangdong Province.







SCB16 Calcite
Daye Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
8.0x 5.5x 5.7 cm
$265

A nice example of calcite from recent finds at the Daye Mine. Excellent form, though there are minor chips present in a couple spots.   

These were somewhat abundant around 15 years ago, then pretty much disappeared. Recently there have been limited new discoveries of the material.







SCB17 Calcite
Daye Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
10.9x 5.5x 5.5 cm
$265

A nice example of calcite from recent finds at the Daye Mine. Excellent form, though there are chips present in a couple spots.   

These were somewhat abundant around 15 years ago, then pretty much disappeared. Recently there have been limited new discoveries of the material.







SCB18 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.8x 5.6x 3.3 cm
$285

A nice example of sparkly dioptase from the Ntola Mine.  This piece features a hemispherical cast of dioptase after another mineral-- this is probably one of the most distinctive formations from the Ntola Mine, though nobody is certain what exactly has been replaced.  Shattuckite or plancheite are the most likely candidates. 









SCB19 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.2x 4.7x 3.4 cm
$200

A very sparkly example of dioptase (with minor yellow mimetite) from the Ntola Mine in the Republic of Congo. 









SCB20 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
2.9x 1.9x 2.1 cm
$85

A nice thumbnail sized example of calcite from the recent find at the Tonglushan Mine. 









SCB21 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
3.4x 2.2x 2.6 cm
$88

A nice thumbnail sized example of calcite from the recent find at the Tonglushan Mine. 









SCB22 Calcite
Tonglushan Mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Pref., Hubei Prov., China
9.7X 7.0X 3.6 cm
$225

A nice example of calcite from recent finds at the Tonglushan Mine. Interestingly sculptural.....







SCB23 Chrysoberyl var. Alexandrite
Novello Mine, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
1.5x 1.4x 1.9 cm
$125

An alexandrite sixling from finds made a few years back in Zimbabwe.  The surfaces are a bit rough, but it has the distinctive outline of a cyclic twin, along with pronounced color change from green (most in sunlight) to a slightly greenish purple under incandescent.







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