ZAI1 Cuprosklodowskite

Musonoi Extension, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo 

7.4x 5.6x 3.8 cm

$1400

Cuprosklodowskite is one of my favorite minerals, with one of the brightest greens in the mineral world.  This is a spectacular cabinet specimen, consisting of a double vug filled with thousands of bright green crystals. 

That in itself is one of the remarkable things about this piece: when you do find a cuprosklodowskite, they usually consist of a solid mass of crystals, with no space to stand freely.

The mines in Katanga have intermittently operated due to the political instability in the region.  The last time cuprosklodowskite was available was 8 years go, though given where it was obtained, this piece is undoubtedly older.

These things are nearly impossible to get, and specimens of this quality and size are particularly scarce.  

ZAI2 Garnet var. Spessartine

Nani, Loliando, Arusha Region, Tanzania

5.8x 3.1x 2.4 cm

$450

A large, bright garnet specimen from the recent finds at Loliando.  The crystal is complete, damage free, and is aesthetically perched on a muscovite pedestal.

The prices on these specimens have been somewhat ridiculous, and I credit this to a small handful of dealers who inflated the prices of the initial specimens.

Either way, I was able to purchase this one at a good price, so I can pass it on. If you wanted one of these, here's your chance to get a matrix specimen for the price of a loose crystal.

ZAI3 Henmilite

Fuka Mine, Fuka, Bitchu-Cho, Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan

4.8x 2.6x 2.1 cm

$180

Here is a specimen from the best-of-species find made a few years back by a Japanese mineral club during a collecting trip to the Fuka Mine. 

These henmilites were initially snapped up by collectors, and have since become scarce in any quality--meaning that even microcrystalline druses have started to command astronomical prices.  This scarcity has been compounded by the prohibition from collecting at the mine, in response to the wave of collectors who flocked there in search of more henmilite.

This is very beautiful material, especially given its rarity, and it is unlikely that more will be found.

ZAI4 Pyromorphite

Lemhi Co., Idaho, United States

3.0x 1.1x 1.0 cm

$135

This piece comes from Lemhi County, farther south than Shushone County, where the Bunker Hill mine is located. 

 It is one of the few large compound crystals that I have seen from Idaho that is not also from Bunker Hill.   This is a choice thumbnail, a floater all around that displays beautiful hoppering.

ZAI5 Spinel

Luc Yen Mining District, Yenbai Prov., Vietnam

ZAI6 Garnet var. Almandine

Erongo Region, Namibia

TU010  Tourmaline var. Elbaite

Paprock, Kunnar, Afghanistan

5.1x 3.2x 2.4 cm

$435

A terminated rubellite perched next to a gemmy bicolor elbaite, both on a lepidolite/albite matrix.  A very aesthetic miniature.

SHIG5 Beryl var. Aquamarine

Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan

3.6x 2.9x 2.3 cm

$285

A gemmy, terminated aquamarine crystal on an albite matrix.  The crystal has etch patterns on its faces, giving it a very beautiful, slightly frosted appearance that sets it apart from other Pakistani aquas.

ZAI7 Plumbogummite on Pyromorphite

Yangshuo Pb/Zn Mine, Yangshuo, Guangxi Province, China/

8.4x 6.8x 6.1cm

$250

A cabinet specimen of this extremely rare mineral from the now finished find made a few years back.

This discovery is the only significant find of the species since the mid-1800's, when plumbogummite was discovered at Roughton Gill and the surrounding localities.

There is a little bruising to the specimen, but this s visible on nearly all of the pieces recovered from the find

ZAI8 Scorodite

Hemerdon Ball Mine, Plympton, Devon, UK

5.1x 3.8x 4.9 cm.

$135

An English scorodite specimen, hosting many sharp, small blue crystals to 0.8cm.  The crystals are blue when viewed under incandescent light (as in the pictures) and greenish-blue when viewed in natural light.

This piece is spectacular under a loupe--you can see a couple radiating clusters in the close-ups.

ZAI9 Hemimorphite

Wenshan Mine, Dulong Ore Field, Wenshan Co., Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China

9.6x 8.5x 4.0 cm.

$165

A large cabinet hemimorphite specimen from China, with a beautiful robin's egg blue.

ZAI10 Copper

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
4.4x 2.6x 1.7 cm

$78

For some reason coppers from Daye have been largely overlooked by collectors.  This specimen has a beautiful arboreal cluster of crystalline copper on a sliver of matrix, with a spine of small spinel twins running down the side of the matrix.

ZAI11 Olmiite with Bulfonteinite

N'Chwannaing II Mine, Kuruman, South Africa

8.4x 5.8x 3.8 cm

$175

A cabinet specimen of olmiite and bulfonteinite on matrix. 

For a long time these were believed to be poldervaartite, but were recently discovered to be the new mineral olmiite.  For more information, see the latest Mineralogical Record.

The reverse has crystals as well, larger and less clustered.  A very beautiful specimen.

ZAI12 Olmiite

N'Chwannaing II Mine, Kuruman, South Africa

6.3x 4.5x 3.2 cm

$75

A specimen of  nearly solid olmiite from the Kalahari manganese fields.

For a long time these were believed to be poldervaartite, but were recently discovered to be the new mineral olmiite.  For more information, see the latest Mineralogical Record.  

ZAI13 Quartz var. Amethyst

Oranje River, South Africa

5.3x 3.8x 3.1 cm

A miniature specimen with a terminated amethyst crystal on colorless quartz.

ZAI14 Opal var. Hyalite

Flat Top Mountain, Near Dalby, Queensland, Australia

4.1x 3.6x 2.0 cm

$68

A bubbly specimen of colorless hyalite opal from Australia, it looks sort of a glob of silicone cement.