New Finds from Inner Mongolia!
A final update for 2021, this page contains a selection of dark blue fluorites from a recent find at Huanggang, as well as a few specimens of new bulfonteinite with very rare plombierite from the nearby Shijiangshan Mine.
List
Grid
BLF01 Quartz incl. Hedenbergite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
46.0x 17.0x 10.0 cm
$2800
I very rarely purchase such large specimens, but occasionally I find one that interests me. More often than not, the disqualifying factor is simply damage-- the larger a piece is, the more chances that somewhere on the surface area of its display face, something will go wrong-- either naturally or during extraction. On this piece however, I only find a couple missing crystals near the edges-- it is as close to perfect as something this size can be, which is remarkable considering how many hundreds of crystals are on it.
The crystals themselves have a deep green color from hedenbergite inclusions, semi rounded terminations, and the complex lateral faces that is a characteristic Huanggang quartz-- these lateral faces reflect light nicely when the piece (or more easily, the light) is shifted-- it's not once of those etched, dull pieces-- the closeup gives a sense of this.
BLF02 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
19.0x 17.0x 7.1 cm
$695
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was shows the underlying quartz crystals quite well, and because the fluorite is thinner in areas, it shows the blue color very well when taken out into sunlight, as opposed to being just the usual inky blue. Couple spots of damage, and sawn back, though nothing too major.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces. Something like this would probably be nearly double elsewhere!
BLF03 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
13.0x 8.0x 3.5 cm
$385
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was particularly nice because of the arrangement of the fluorite crystals and the white space visible in between them-- usually the crystals are more tightly packed.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF04 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
13.5x 11.5x 5.5 cm
$565
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material.
This one was features a large main crystal near the center, and it seems to have multiple growths: an initial cube that was overgrown by quartz 9this is visible from he side) then a later generation of blue fluorite. The quartz layer makes the blue stand out just a little better on this piece, as opposed to solid dark inky blue.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elseqhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF05 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
16.4x 12.0 x 3.1 cm
$375
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, nearly black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was interesting because of the linear growth of the fluorite crystals on one side-- I've sen this sort of thing with zeolites, but only rarely with fluorite. There are a couple sports of damage, but the piece is exactly as shown.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF06 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
12.5x 6.0x 3.0 cm
$295
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was particularly nice because of the arrangement of the fluorite crystals and the white space visible in between them-- usually the crystals are more tightly packed.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF07 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
13.0x 5.0x 3.0 cm
$285
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was particularly nice because of the arrangement of the fluorite crystals and the white space visible in between them-- usually the crystals are more tightly packed. Sawn edges. Theres just one little rub on the side of one of the crystals, this is visible in the pictures
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF08 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
18.7x 15.5x 3.2 cm
$395
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces this is pretty much the wholesale price you would get in the US.
BLF09 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
16.4x 15.5x 4.7 cm
$450
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces this is pretty much the wholesale price you would get in the US.
BLF10 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.2x 11.0x 3.8 cm
$265
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one was nice because the crystals are not as tightly packed, though it is somewhat flatter overall.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces! This is pretty much the wholesale price you would get in the US.
BLF11 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
11.2x 6.0x 4.3 cm
$225
A nice example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
BLF12 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.2x 8.5x 5.0 cm
$245
A large reference example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF13 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
19.5x 7.3x 4.3 cm
$215
A large reference example of blue fluorite on quartz, from recent finds at the Huanggang Mine. These were first found several years ago, but it seems there was recently another pocket of this material. The fluorite is a very dark inky blue, near black-- if you've seen then in person then you know exactly what I mean-- the color is usually more visible where the fluorite is thinner, such as on tiny crystals scattered around the matrix, or near the edges of the cubes.
This one is a large quartz matrix covered with tightly packed crystals. Sawn back/sides.
I was able to get this lot sent directly from China, so I'm pricing these somewhat lower than what I've seen them offered for elsewhere-- especially considering the sizes of these pieces!
BLF14 Bulfonteinite on Plombierite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.4x 4.3x 2.9 cm
$580
A nice example of yellow bulfonteinite on a matrix covered with plombierite, both rare silicate minerals. While the bulfonteinite is the focus of the specimen, it would probably be fair to say that the white plombierite matrix is possibly more interesting (even if not quite visually) as it is the much rarer species.
This is yet another exceptional discovery from the Shijiangshan Mine-- other recent discoveries include the olshanskyites, roweites, and (a little earlier) borcarites.
BLF15 Bulfonteinite on Plombierite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.0x 4.1x 3.1 cm
$345
A nice example of yellow bulfonteinite on a matrix covered with plombierite, both rare silicate minerals. While the bulfonteinite is the focus of the specimen, it would probably be fair to say that the white plombierite matrix is possibly more interesting (even if not quite visually) as it is the much rarer species.
This is yet another exceptional discovery from the Shijiangshan Mine-- other recent discoveries include the olshanskyites, roweites, and (a little earlier) borcarites.
BLF16 Bulfonteinite on Plombierite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.4x 3.3x 3.8 cm
$285
A nice example of yellow bulfonteinite on a matrix covered with plombierite, both rare silicate minerals. While the bulfonteinite is the focus of the specimen, it would probably be fair to say that the white plombierite matrix is possibly more interesting (even if not quite visually) as it is the much rarer species.
This is yet another exceptional discovery from the Shijiangshan Mine-- other recent discoveries include the olshanskiites, roweites, and (a little earlier) borcarites.
BLF17 Bulfonteinite on Plombierite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.7x 2.8x 2.3 cm
$135
A nice example with a couple balls of yellow bulfonteinite on a matrix covered with plombierite, both rare silicate minerals.
This is yet another exceptional discovery from the Shijiangshan Mine-- other recent discoveries include the olshanskyites, roweites, and (a little earlier) borcarites.
BLF18 Bulfonteinite on Plombierite
Shijiangshan Mine, Linxi Co., Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.2x 3.8x 4.5
$235
A nice example of yellow bulfonteinite on a matrix covered with plombierite, both rare silicate minerals. While the bulfonteinite is the focus of the specimen, it would probably be fair to say that the white plombierite matrix is possibly more interesting (even if not quite visually) as it is the much rarer species.
This is yet another exceptional discovery from the Shijiangshan Mine-- other recent discoveries include the olshanskyites, roweites, and (a little earlier) borcarites.
