Post Tucson Update #1

This is the first update of specimens from Tucson.  This update is dedicated mainly to Chinese minerals, Inner Mongolia not included (that comes later.)  The next update will feature new finds from the show.

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T1501 Beryl var. Aquamarine
Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan
7.0x 4.0x 3.3 cm
$1250

A wonderfully transparent gem crystal of aquamarine, displaying good color and a dramatically etched termination, along with lightly etched lateral faces.  The bottom of the crystal has an etched termination, and the crystal has been etched into two separate pieces, approximately 1.5 cm from the bottom.  The bottom piece is held by the albite matrix, though has just enough clearance to move up and down just slightly.

All in all, it makes for a very beautiful and slightly more unusual Shigar aquamarine.











T1502 Beryl var. Aquamarine
Shigar Valley, Baltistan Pakistan
6.1x 4.4x 5.9 cm
$750

A nicely terminated aquamarine crystal, displaying good color and perched on the side of a partial albite crystal.









T1503 Muscovite, Beryl var. Aquamarine
Chumar Bakhoor, Hunza Valley, Nagar, Northern Areas, Pakistan
4.6x 3.7x 4.1 cm
$585

A terminated and unusually flattened aquamarine from what has arguably become the most iconic of the various Pakistani aquamarine localities, since its discovery in 1984. 

This piece has the muscovite association that is considered typical for the location, and also has a bit of quartz attached to one side.  

As a side note, this is the same locality that is notable for the pink fluorites and apatites.












T1504 Fluorite
Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
10.2x 9.5x 6.2 cm
$3600

A cabinet sized fluorite crystal, displaying good clarity, light phantoms, and an interesting stepped cubo-octahedral form. 
Although very small amounts of material have recently made it out of Yaogangxian, the output is a trickle compared to the early 2000's, when the mine produced enough material to become a staple of the wholesalers.

The back of the piece is a contact and there is some minor edge chipping here and there, but the piece displays exactly as shown.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at pieces below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking.  This piece was originally marked considerably higher by the dealer who was offering it.











T1505 Fluorite
Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
9.6x 6.2x 4.6 cm
$950

A cabinet sized fluorite crystal, displaying good clarity and light phantoms.

Although very small amounts of material have recently made it out of Yaogangxian, the output is a trickle compared to the early 2000's, when the mine produced enough material to become a staple of the wholesalers.

The back of the piece is a contact and there is some minor edge chipping here and there, but the piece displays exactly as shown.  

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at pieces below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking.  This piece was originally marked considerably higher by the dealer who was offering it.











T1506 Fluorite
Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan Prov., China
11.6x 7.1x 4.6 cm
$1900

A cabinet sized fluorite crystal, displaying decent clarity and light phantoms. 

Although very small amounts of material have recently made it out of Yaogangxian, the output is a trickle compared to the early 2000's, when the mine produced enough material to become a staple of the wholesalers.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at prices below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking.  This piece was originally marked considerably higher by the dealer who was offering it.

Since 1914, Yaogangxian has operated primarily for tungsten recovery and is today a government run operation.









T1506A Chrysoberyl
Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
2.2x 1.5x 0.45 cm
$950

A very rare chrysoberyl thumbnail from Sri Lanka.  This piece consists of a sharp pair of twinned crystals with decent clarity.  There is chipping on one of the lower sides (more visible from the side shown directly under the description) but these things are VERY hard to find in any quality-- and this one is in very good shape.

This comes from the same area that is better known for its world class sapphires.







T1507 Calcite
Fuzichong Pb-Zn-Ag ore field, Cenxi Co., Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
13.7x 9.7x 8.6 cm
$530

A cabinet sized specimen of poker-chip calcite crystals, from a very distinctive find made around 2005.  Examples from this occurrence were easily identified by their clear cores and white ends-- and this is a typical example.









T1507A Muscovite, Beryl var. Aquamarine
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
4.7x 4.5x 4.1 cm
$380

A tabular aquamarine specimen, with a small clump of muscovite crystals attached to the front.  The color on this piece is considerably better than most from the locality-- they are usually so pale that applying the term "aquamarine" probably has more to do with the general habit for describing beryls from Mt. Xuebaoding.

This is a slightly older piece, little good aquaamrine, scheelite or caissiterite comes out these days.  There is a chip on the very top, but it isn't the easiest thing to see.  







T1508 Pyromorphite
Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China
8.8x 5.5x 3.3 cm
$400

A cluster of yellow-green pyromorphite crystals, from one of the many occurrences of the species at the Daoping-Yangshuo orebody. The first finds occurred around 1999-2000, and although more infrequent now have continued to this day.







T1509 Pyromorphite
Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China
8.2x 4.2x 3.2 cm
$375

A cluster of yellow-green pyromorphite crystals, from one of the many occurrences of the species at the Daoping-Yangshuo orebody. The first finds occurred around 1999-2000, and although more infrequent now have continued to this day.







T1510 Pyromorphite
Daoping-Yangshuo Orebody, Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang A.R., China
6.1x 4.2x 2.2 cm
$190

A cluster of yellow-green pyromorphite crystals, from one of the many occurrences of the species at the Daoping-Yangshuo orebody. The first finds occurred around 1999-2000, and although more infrequent now have continued to this day.







T1513 Fluorite
Xianghualing Mine, Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co. , Chenzhou Pref., Hunan Prov., China
10.4x 5.7x 5.3 cm
$265

A group of sharp and icy green fluorite crystals on matrix, from the Xianghualing mine.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at pieces below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking.  This is one of those pieces.







T1514 Chalcopyrite on Siderite with Calcite
Kaiwu Mine, Hezhang County, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou, China, China
14.2x 11.8x 4.5 cm
$600

A large cabinet specimen of siderite with interspersed crystals of very bright, brassy yellow chalcopyrite, from a 2012 find at the Kaiwu Mine.  Smaller pieces are plentiful, but larger pieces in good shape were a bit harder to come by.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at pieces below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking.  This piece was originally marked higher by the dealer who was offering it.







T1515 Chalcopyrite on Siderite with Tetrahedrite
Kaiwu Mine, Hezhang County, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou, China, China
11.2x 8.2x 4.4 cm
$460

A cabinet specimen of siderite with interspersed crystals of very bright, brassy yellow chalcopyrite, from a 2012 find at the Kaiwu Mine.  

This is one of the comparatively rarer examples with a tetrahedrite association.  On this piece, a part of the chalcopyrite has been etched (or broken, I really can't tell) to reveal an underlying tetrahedrite crystal.  I thought this piece was interesting.








T1516 Siderite
Kaiwu Mine, Hezhang County, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou, China, China
11.5x 7.4x 3.5 cm
$285

A large cabinet specimen of siderite from a 2012 find at the Kaiwu Mine.  This piece has almost no chalcopyrite, but is exceptionally good for a Chinese siderite, particularly given the sharpness of the crystals.  Because it lacks the chalcopyrite however, I'm offering it somewhat cheaper than the other pieces of similar size.









T1517 Chalcopyrite on Siderite
Kaiwu Mine, Hezhang County, Bijie Prefecture, Guizhou, China, China
5.5x 4.3x 3.3 cm
$135

A sharp cluster of siderite crystals with a chalcopyrite association, from the 2012 find at the Kaiwu Mine.







T1518 Calcite
Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
6.5x 3.8x 3.0 cm
$345

A pair of intertwined calcite crystals, from a find made several years ago.  Pieces from this find were notable for their interesting selectively frosted terminations, and transparent lateral faces, through which complex inclusions could be seen. Liek virtually all other pieces from this find, this one can only be displayed from the front, the the back is a mixture of etching and bits of matrix.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at prices below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking-- this is one such piece.









T1519 Calcite
Wuzhou Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
5.4x 3.4x 3.3 cm
$340

A pair of intertwined calcite crystals, from a find made several years ago.  Pieces from this find were notable for their interesting selectively frosted terminations, and transparent lateral faces, through which complex inclusions could be seen. Like virtually all other pieces from this find, this one can only be displayed from the front, the the back is a mixture of etching and bits of matrix.

As the prices of Chinese minerals keep climbing, I ended up doing a deal to purchase a very large amount of material-- this way I can offer pieces at prices below what the Chinese dealers themselves were originally asking-- this is one such piece.







T1521 Scheelite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
4.7x 4.5x 2.5 cm
$265

An older crystal of orange scheelite from Mt. Xuebaoding.  The scheelite is complete all around, but the crystal form is best appreciated from the side pictured.







T1522 Cassiterite on Muscovite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
7.2x 2.8x 1.5 cm
$220

A very sharp and lustrous black cassiterite crystal on a thin plate of muscovite.  This is an older piece from the site.







T1523 Cassiterite on Muscovite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
3.5x 2.5x 1.6 cm
$235

A very beautiful "toenail" sized cassiterite crystal on a muscovite hemisphere.  There is minor contacting on the back of the cassiterite, but as you can see, the frontal display leaves nothing to be desired.







T1524 Cassiterite on Albite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
4.3x 3.2x 3.8 cm
$235

A rather unusual cassiterite specimen for the locality, in that the species is perched directly on an albite matrix and not on muscovite.  This is an older piece from the site.









T1525 Cassiterite on Muscovite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
4.1x 2.7x 1.8 cm
$190

A cluster of sharp and lustrous cassiterite crystals on a muscovite matrix.  This is an older specimen.







T1527 Cassiterite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
2.7x 2.2x 2.1 cn
$290

A thumbnail cassiterite that is about as good as they come for the location, both for the sharpness and size of the crystal (it's just the right size for a perky--not too big or too small to look awkward in the box) and for the bit of muscovite clinging to the back and side.  There is a small contact on the back-- but it's the back so it doesn't really matter, particularly when displayed in a Perky box.









T1528 Cassiterite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
2.0x 1.5x 1.8 cm
$135

A very sharp little cassiterite thumbnail with a bit of attached muscovite. This is an older piece.  









T1529 Beryl
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
3.9x 2.7x 3.6 cm
$185

A damage free miniature specimen of beryl (I suppose it could pass as an aquamarine, but it's really pale) from Mt. Xuebaoding, displaying the tabular form that the locality is known for.  The form on this piece is very good.











T1531 Mushistonite on Kesterite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
1.8x 1.6x 0.9 cm
$190

A rare example of metallic kesterite, covered by a layer of greenish mushistonite.  The kesterite is sulfide of copper, zinc, iron and tin, while the mushistonite is a hydroxide of the same metals.

Although known from other localities, this is pretty much the only location from which samples are obtainable, and there has been almost no new material for the last several years.  Kesterite/ Mushistonite combinations were always among the rarest specimens to come from the locality, but with decreased production of even the once common species (aquamarine, cassiterite, scheelite) these have become even harder to obtain, at least as fresh specimens.

When these were first discovered in the 90's, they were marketed as a new species called "pandaite"-- subsequent testing however, proved them to be a combination of 2 already known species.







T1532 Mushistonite on Kesterite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
1.5x 1.5x 1.15
$165

A rare example of metallic kesterite, covered by a layer of greenish mushistonite.  The kesterite is sulfide of copper, zinc, iron and tin, while the mushistonite is a hydroxide of the same metals.

Although known from other localities, this is pretty much the only location from which samples are obtainable, and there has been almost no new material for the last several years.  Kesterite/ Mushistonite combinations were always among the rarest specimens to come from the locality, but with decreased production of even the once common species (aquamarine, cassiterite, scheelite) these have become even harder to obtain, at least as fresh specimens.

When these were first discovered in the 90's, they were marketed as a new species called "pandaite"-- subsequent testing however, proved them to be a combination of 2 already known species.







T1533 Mushistonite on Kesterite
Huya Village, Mt. Xuebaoding, Sichuan Prov., China
1.7x 1.4x 1.1 cm
$155

A rare example of metallic kesterite, covered by a layer of greenish mushistonite.  The kesterite is sulfide of copper, zinc, iron and tin, while the mushistonite is a hydroxide of the same metals.

Although known from other localities, this is pretty much the only location from which samples are obtainable, and there has been almost no new material for the last several years.  Kesterite/ Mushistonite combinations were always among the rarest specimens to come from the locality, but with decreased production of even the once common species (aquamarine, cassiterite, scheelite) these have become even harder to obtain, at least as fresh specimens.

When these were first discovered in the 90's, they were marketed as a new species called "pandaite"-- subsequent testing however, proved them to be a combination of 2 already known species.







T1534 Babingtonite
Qiaojia Co., Zhaotong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
10.0x 5.5x 2.9 cm
$225

A well balanced specimen of babingtonite, consisting of a cluster of sharp crystals on a quartz matrix.  This piece comes from finds made int he early 2000's.  Although not impossible to find, this is yet another example of Chinese material that was once produced in bulk, though which now requires a bit of searching to find a good one...

Off the top of my head, the other main localities for babingtonite are also in basalt workings (as in Qiaojia Co.)-- mainly in New Jersey and near Mumbai.







T1536 Quartz (Japan Law Twin)
Cajamarca, Cajamarca Province, Cajamarca Department, Peru
8.3x 4.1x 2.4 cm
$185

A sharp Japan law twin on a plate of regular quartz crystals, from a small locality in Cajamarca.  This was a small project undertaken by a local mineral dealer.  The project ultimately failed, but it did produce a couple flats worth of specimens before then.  This is one of the better small cabinet pieces from the occurrence.









T1538 Fluorite
Fujian Prov., China
6.7x 5.0x 3.0 cm
$165

A sample from the 2015 edition of Chinese fluorite.  It seems that every year there is at least one new "edition" of the mineral that at least half the Chinese dealers have available-- this was one of the two from this year.  Interestingly enough, it's not from Hunan (yes, with that last comment I'm clearly digging for something to try and make this sound more special.)  

Pieces from this find had the stepped cubo-octahedral form somewhat reminiscent of the more famous Shangbao mine, though with the color of your typical Xianghuapu specimen.









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