ADB2 Vivianite

Tomokoni Mine, Saavedra Prov., Potosi Dept., Bolivia.

9.6x 4.6x 4.9 cm

$650

A large vivianite crystal, from the 2004 find at the Tomokoni Mine.  Unlike many of the earlier vivianites to come from the region, the Tomokoni specimens occurred on sandstone.  As you can see from the photographs, there is a chip on the end of the smaller, protruding crystal.  Contacted on the reverse, but otherwise displays perfectly.

ADB3 Scheelite on Muscovite with Albite

Ping Wu Co., Sichuan Prov., China

8.7x 4.6x 5.0 cm

$400

A scheelite octahedron on a muscovite covered matrix.  There is no damage to the specimen-although it is not as bright as the next specimen, the crystal is complete and the muscovite is sharp.  There is also some albite sharing the matrix with the scheelite.  A choice cabinet from a locality that has for years been producing the world's best scheelite.  The crystal measures 2.3 cm on edge, with a 3 cm diagonal.

As a side note, this area was recently devastated by an earthquake whose death toll is estimated at over 70,000.

ADB4 Scheelite on Muscovite,

Ping Wu Co., Sichuan Prov., China

3.7x 3.4x 2.6 cm

$165

Another specimen of this calcium tungstate, with a single bright orange octahedron aesthetically perched on a muscovite matrix.  There is no damage at all--the crystal is complete, and the muscovite is sharp. This is an excellent thumbnail specimen, about as good as these things get--and quite gemmy too.

As a side note, this area was recently devastated by an earthquake whose death toll is estimated at over 70,000.  The mining area was badly damaged, so for at least some interval of time, these will be harder to get.

ADB5 Pyromorphite on Pyromorphite (Stalactite)

Les Farges, Ussel, Correze, France

5.0x 2.5x 2.2 cm

$385

In the 1970's, Les Farges was the premier pyromorphite locality.  Various habits and colors were found, and this specimen incorporates two of them, in the form of two generations of pyro growths.  The first generation is a stalactite consisting of yellow crystals, and the second generation consists of small, bright green crystals that have grown over the main stalactite. 

A very unique and aesthetic specimen from this classic locality.

ADB6 Pyromorphite

Daoping/Yangshuo Orebody, Guangxi Prov., China

4.6x 4.0x 2.1 cm

$85

So the Daoping pyromorphites never really did stop coming out.  The apparent "end" that came 3 years ago proved to be little more than a hiatus.  Of course, the quality of the first pockets from 2000-2001 has yet to be matched, but from time to time nice pieces are still found.

ADB7 Calcite on Fluorite

Xianghualing Mine, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

13.4x 6.8x 6.8 cm

$425

A cabinet specimen from a limited find made within the last 3 months.  It contains a number of gray calcite disks to 4.2 cm in diameter, perched on several interlocking geen fluorite octahedrons that reach 5 cm on edge. Nearly all the pieces that I have seen from the find suffer from significant damage, but this one escape nearly unscathed--only one of the rear calcite crystals shows chipping.

We have all seen the green fluorites and gray calcites that have come from this area over the past few years, but it has not been until very recently that the two have been found in combination.  Much better in person.  The three dimensionality of the specimen makes it difficult to photograph.

ADB8 Fluorite

Xianghualing Mine, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

19.1x 12.8x 4.5 cm

$650

A large cabinet specimen fromthe famous Xianghualing mine.  As with nearly all such pieces, photography is near impossible.  The piece is damage free, with only a couple minor contacted crystals at the base.  The crystals are water clear.  A very beautiful large cabinet specimen, at a very good price. 

 ADB9 Fluorite

Xinyang, Henan Prov,. China

21.4x 12.7x 5.7 cm

$600

A very large cabinet specimen of honey colored fluorite, from a limited find made within the past year.  While most Chinese fluorite discoveries have produced vast quantities of specimens, this occurrence was considerably more limited, and I have seen only a couple dealers both online and in Tucson who had them available.  There were virtually no smaller pieces recovered-- all were large cabinets.  

ADB10 Fluorite

Xinyang, Henan Prov,. China

20.0x 17.8x 5.9 cm

$450

A very large cabinet specimen of honey colored fluorite, from a limited find made within the past year.  While most Chinese fluorite discoveries have produced vast quantities of specimens, this occurrence was considerably more limited, and I have seen only a couple dealers both online and in Tucson who had them available.  There were virtually no smaller pieces recovered-- all were large cabinets.  This piece does have a thin coat of oil applied--while not orthodox, in this case I would definitely say that the piece benefits, and it has not been overdone.

ADB11 Fluorite

De'An Mine, Jiagxi Prov., China

6.8x 5.3x 3.1 cm

$185

A beautiful fluorite crystal on a quartz matrix. The color on this one is lighter and more vibrant than on the majority of others that I have seen, and also unlike most others, it is damage free.  A very beautiful example of a highly desired Chinese fluorite configuration.

ADB12 Fluorite

Shangbao Pyrite mine, Leiyang Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China (the label might have been off)

5.3x 2.8x 2.3 cm

$325

A very interesting fluorite stalactite, and one of only a handful of purple stalactites I have seen from China.  This was found within the last year and a half, and is from a different locality than the green stalactites found over the same period.

ADB13 Henmilite

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

4.6x 2.3x 1.4 cm

$225

A rich miniature of henmilite, with numerous dark blue crystals to .3 cm on a while matrix.  There have there been no more of these since the original find, and it does not seem likely that there will be again.

There  are crystals on both sides of the specimen.

ADB14 Mushistonite on Kesterite

Mt. Xuebaoding, Ping Wu Co., Sichuan Prov., China

1.9x 1.45x .9 cm

$165

A relatively large, and high quality thumbnail of this rare combo.  This one is particularly attractive, as the kesterite layer is intact and imparts a lovely pistachio green. The crystals are sharp and distinct. Overall this is a choice thumbnail.

ADB15 Mushistonite on Kesterite

Mt. Xuebaoding, Ping Wu Co., Sichuan Prov., China

1.5x 1.1x 1.0 cm

$95

A thumbnail of this rare combo.  This one is particularly attractive, as the kesterite layer is intact, and imparts a lovely pistachio green. The crystals are sharp and distinct. Overall this is a choice thumbnail.

ADB16 Mushistonite on Kesterite

Mt. Xuebaoding, Ping Wu Co., Sichuan Prov., China

1.3x 1.1x 1.0 cm

$75

A thumbnail of this rare combo.  This one is particularly attractive, as the kesterite layer is intact, and imparts a lovely pistachio green. The crystals are sharp and distinct. Overall this is a choice thumbnail.

ADB17 Topaz

Katlang, Mardan District, NWFP, Pakistan.

3.1x 2.8x 3.3 cm

$185

A terminated, light brown topaz specimen from the desirable Katlang locality.  It may look a bit pinkish in the photographs, but this is not the case!  I don't know how that happened, but it is light brown.

This piece was in my first collection (from back when I was about 10.)  A few years ago I rediscovered it, and by trimming and exposing more of the crystal, it was transformed into what you see in the photographs.

ADB18 Inesite with Hubeite

Fengjiashan Mine (Daye Cu Mine) Hubei Prov., China

4.3x 2.9x 2.9 cm

$135

A salmon pink spray of inesite crystals on matrix with hubeite.  Good inesite has not been found at Fengjianshan for some time now.  Along with the finds in the Kalahari and at Hale Creek, California in the 1970's, this occurrence produced some of the best inesite ever recovered.

ADB19 Chalcocite

Dzerzkazgan, Kazakhstan

3.6x 2.4x 2.4 cm

$140

A perfect hexagonal chalcocite crystal perched on its matrix.  Although numerous other localities produce chalcocite, those form Dzerzkazgan are notable for the aesthetic patina that usually exists on the crystals.  A spectacular "toenail" specimen! 

ADB20 Lazurite

Sar-e-Sang, Badakhshan, Afghanistan

4.6x 2.7x 2.6 cm

$185

A large lazurite crystal on matrix. The base of the crystal seems to have been exposed from its matrix.  This mine has been producing for millennia, though in recent years these crystals have become more difficult to obtain.

This one has NOT been etched.  Many preparators use hydrochloric acid to wash away the marble, but it also corrodes the surface of the lazurite, giving them a rough texture and a brighter blue.  The crystal was exposed without chemicals.

ADB21 Spodumene (Floater)

Skardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan

13.4x 6.8x 6.8 cm

$235

A large etched spodumene crystal, with a light yellow tinge.  The pictures are not much to look at, but in person this piece is QUITE gemmy, and the numerous faces reflect light well.  I cannot find any points of attachment, and it seems to be a floater.  This was very hard to photograph, as it the gemmyness and surface reflections make it difficult to focus.

3.2x 2.9x 2.2 cm

$120

 A spectacular combination specimen consisting of a gem topaz crystal sandwiched in between a quartz crystal and a muscovite book.  There are also a couple small, but terminated and green capped elbaites near the base.  The main crystal is undamaged and exceptionally gemmy.  Its only flaw is that the quartz crystal is incomplete, though it can be positioned to hide this.

2.4x 2.4x 1.6 cm

$85

A spectacular combination specimen consisting of a gem topaz crystal, a terminated elbaite and quartz, and a small muscovite book.  All crystals are terminated and damage free.  There is an internal flaw within the topaz that appears in photographs taken from virtually any angle.  Despite its "uglifying" the photographs, it serves as a testament to the gemmyness of the crystal.  Needless to say, it is much better in person. 

PTE1 Topaz
Skardu, Pakistan
5.0x 4.8x 2.4 cm.
$175 (Reduced form $225)

A large, light brown crystal of topaz, with some very gemmy areas. 

 There are a couple small dings on one of the back edges, as visible in the third picture, but over all a very good specimen, at a very good price

ADB24 Cumengite

Amalia Mine, Santa Rosalia Co., Baja California, Mexico 

3.5 mm

$45

A small but perfect specimen of this exceedingly rare mineral from excavations undertaken decades ago.

This was discovered by a friend of mine in a small box of boleites that had been sitting in the basement....

ADB25 Uraninite, Carnotite

Gray Mtn., Arizona, United States

10.2x 5.7x 2.4 cm

$125

A piece of sandstone covered with black uraninite and yellow carnotite.  Hot stuff....

According to the person who sold it to me, this specimen registers .25 mR/HR (~120 CPM) in gamma with the probe .5" away from the piece, using a  CDV700 counter