TX01 Diamond

Formoso River, Bahia, Brazil

7.3x 6.1x 5.3 cm

$850

One dealer at the show had diamonds in conglomerate from Brazil.  I searched through all the pieces, and this was among the best in the lot, with a large (for the locality) crystal measuring 7 mm from point to point.  

I have never seen this sort of specimen from anywhere other than Brazil.  Alluvial diamonds are usually off matrix, and matrix diamonds are rare from any locality.

TX02 Topaz on Albite

Shigar Valley, Skardu, Pakistam

5.4x 4.6x 2.2 cm

$335

A complete, terminated, colorless, and gemmy topaz crystal perched on the edge of an albite matrix. There is absolutely no damage to the piece.  The rather interesting position of the topaz crystal makes the specimen look a bit like a hatchet.  

TX03 Euclase

Equador, Borborema Mineral Province, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Region, Brazil

6.1x 3.2x 2.3 cm

$285

A cluster of terminated quartz crystals, hosing a single, blue-banded euclase crystal nestled among hundreds of small muscovites.  This specimen is from the recent find.

CNM5 Mimetite

Pingtouling Mine, Bapu, Guangdong Province, China
3.6x 3.5x 1.8 cm

$600

A large cluster of mimetite crystals from the major find of 2002 .  This piece combines the luster and deep, bright orange color that made this find stand out with large crystal size.  The end result is a top miniature specimen

Since the initial find, these mimetites  have all but disappeared form the market.  The larger crystals, which were only found over a very short interval, are especially desirable. 

I have recently seen similar pieces appearing on other websites for two or even three times the price marked here.  

This one is actually from a Tucson show a couple years ago.  I purchased it when they were still being found, so I can keep the price comparatively low.

Better in person, you can see the distinct crystals.  In the photographs, everything gets jumbled together.

TX04 Flourapatite on Arsenopyrite

Panasqueira, Covilha, Castelo Branco District, Portugal

4.7x 3.0x 1.7 cm

$120

Two olive colored hexagonal flourapatites on a plate of arsenopyrite.  This piece comes from an old collection.  Contemporary specimens sometimes have apatite and arsenopyrite sharing a rock matrix, but the presence of apatite directly on the arsenopyrite is a characteristic of older specimens. 

TX37 Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Pyrite

Quiruvilca Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept. , Peru.

12.3x 8.7x 4.1 cm

$340

A beautiful combination specimen from Peru, consisting of hundreds of bright pyrite dodecahedrons, associated with pale pink rhodochrosite, and white quartz. 

Interestingly enough, the rhodochrosite has only grown on one side of the quartz crystals.  A highly aesthetic cabinet specimen, though unfortunately in the pictures it is difficult to see the brightness of the pyrite.

TX38 Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Pyrite

Quiruvilca Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept. , Peru.

8.1x 5.8x 5.0 cm

A beautiful combination specimen from Peru, consisting of hundreds of bright pyrite dodecahedrons, associated with pale pink rhodochrosite, and white quartz. 

The quartz actually rises out of the matrix at an angle, making it perfect for display.

TX39 Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Pyrite

Quiruvilca Mine, Santiago de Chuco Prov., La Libertad Dept. , Peru.

6.0x 3.8x 3.0 cm

A beautiful combination specimen from Peru, consisting of hundreds of bright pyrite dodecahedrons, associated with pale pink rhodochrosite, and white quartz. 

TX05 Galena, Sphalerite, Quartz

Shuikoushan Mine, Hunan Province, China
8.4x 8.0x 4.1 cm

$160

An excellent galena specimen from the Shuikoushan mine.  This mine is known for the gemmy red sphalerites that is has been producing of late (and some are present on this specimen,) though the foci of this piece are the numerous galena dodecahedra that cover the specimen.

The luster of these crystals is considerably greater than anything I have ever seen from the prolific Missouri or Oklahoma localities-- they almost look like silver, rather than galena.

All in all, this an exceptional Chinese galena--a mineral which despite being reasonably common elsewhere, has not come from China in any appreciable quantity.

TX06 Stilbite with Unknowns

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China
2.5x 1.7x 1.6 cm

$120

A beautiful thumbnail, which looks a bit more like a plant than a mineral....

There is no damage, and the globular cluster is stilbite.  The rest is anyone's guess....and I am not sure what the small brown crystals are.

This is a very beautiful thumbnail, and not the type of material that China is known for.

TX07 Smithsonite

Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico
11.0x 10.2x 5.3 cm

$235

A large cabinet specimen covered with botryoidal smithsonite.  Very rich, and unusual in that the damage usually seen in larger specimens is for the most part absent from this piece.

BOL14 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

4.6x 3.1x 3.4 cm

$345

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

This is one of the better specimens, in terms of richness, and for its sharp and distinct crystals.  The couple cubes that have been halved show the bright blue chrysocolla interiors that have replaced the boleite.

I sold most of the specimens that I had posted previously, and am listing the last ones in my possession.  I cherry picked the find early in the show, and purchased virtually all that displayed good crystal form and clear pseudomorphing. 

BOL11 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

5.2x 4.5x 3.6 cm

$275

A large miniature hosting a cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla.

This specimen is MUCH better in person. You can actually see the distinct crystals, of exceptional sharpness.  You can see part of a sharp cluster of pseudomorphs in the bottom right image, and then a single crystal in the bottom right image.

I sold most of the specimens that I had posted previously, and am listing the last ones in my possession.  I cherry picked the find early in the show, and purchased virtually all that displayed good crystal form and clear pseudomorphing. 

TX08 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

3.6x 2.3x 3.1 cm

$135

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

I sold most of the specimens that I had posted previously, and am listing the last ones in my possession.  I cherry picked the find early in the show, and purchased virtually all that displayed good crystal form and clear pseudomorphing. 

TX09 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

4.3x 2.0x 2.6 cm

$90

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

I sold most of the specimens that I had posted previously, and am listing the last ones in my possession.  I cherry picked the find early in the show, and purchased virtually all that displayed good crystal form and clear pseudomorphing. 

TX10 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

3.0x 2.0x 1.7 cm

$120

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix.

I sold most of the specimens that I had posted previously, and am listing the last ones in my possession.  I cherry picked the find early in the show, and purchased virtually all that displayed good crystal form and clear pseudomorphing. 

TX11 Chrysocolla ps. Boleite

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

1.5x 1.1x 1.0 cm

$85

A cluster of boleite cubes that have been completely replaced by chrysocolla, on matrix

TX12 Calcite

Daye Copper mine, Daye Co., Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Prov., China

21.0x 4.0x 3.2 cm

$150

A large "bouquet" of elongated calcite crystals.  There is no damage, and all the terminations are intact.  This is one of the best from the lot.

This specimen is better in person, you can actually see the distinct, parallel crystals more clearly up close.

TX13 Diamond

Central Africa

0.6x 0.5x 0.4 cm (1.4 ct)

$185

A complete dodecahedral diamond crystal from central Africa.  The crystal is reasonably gemmy, and has is a beautiful cognac color.  Complete all around, with no damage.

TX14 Huebnerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

5.3x 3.2x 4.0 cm

$350

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year, which produced some of the best huebnerites found anywhere since the 1980's. 

This specimen is much better in person, with numerous lustrous, terminated huebnerites clustered around four water clear quartz crystals.

Of the pieces I purchased, even those which were slightly larger, this was by far my favorite, and it is a top miniature both for the find, as well as of the species.

TX15 Huebnerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

5.7x 4.7x 2.8 cm

$120

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year, which produced some of the best huebnerites found anywhere since the 1980's. 

This specimen is much better in person, with numerous lustrous, terminated huebnerites perched on water clear quartz crystals.

You can see the quartz better with the black background, and the huebnerite better with the lighter background....

TX16 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

1.1x 1.0x .8cm

$135

A specimen of Chessy cuprite that has NOT pseudomorphed to malachite.  Strangely enough, it is much harder to obtain a cuprite from Chessy, than it is to obtain one of the green malachite pseudomorphs.  In person, this thing looks like a brown garnet, but under the strong lighting conditions of the photograph, red flashes become visible.

TX17 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

1.4x 1.1x 1.0cm

$150

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Sharp!

TX18 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

.9x .8x .8cm

$100

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Sharp!

TX19 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

1.0x 1.0x .8cm

$100

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Sharp!

TX20 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

.9x .9x .9cm

$85

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Very sharp, but missing one point.

TX21 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

1.0x .9x .9cm

$60

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite. It has been repaired, but this is really only visible under magnification, as in the pictures.  In fact, I did not notice until after I had taken the pictures...

TX22 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

.65x .5x .4cm

$35

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Sharp!

TX23 Cuprite 

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhone, Rhone Alpes, France

.6x .45x .4cm

$32

A classic thumbnail of Chessy cuprite that has been pseudomorphed by malachite.  Sharp!

TX24 Huebnerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

6.8x 4.7x 4.1 cm

$125

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year, which produced some of the best huebnerites found anywhere since the 1980's. 

This specimen boasts a lustrous, terminated huebnerite perched on a cluster of terminated quartz crystals.

TX25  Huebnerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

8.0x 4.2 x 2.7 cm

$100

A large crystal, nearly 8 cm in length.  Terminated with no damage and some etching, as visible in the photographs.

TX26 Japan Law Twin Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

5.4x 3.3x 3.5 cm

$100

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year.   I found this single Japan law twin hidden among the huebnerites that made this find notable.

TX26 Fluorite with Sphalerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

7.1x 5.1x 3.8 cm

$120

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year.   Although notable for producing huebnerite, the find also produced a few fluorites--this was the best I could find.

The crystal is a very faint purple, complete all around, and heavily etched on a matrix of quartz with sphalerite.  This is a very interesting combination specimen, and a rather scarce example of Peruvian fluorite.

TX28 Huebnerite on Quartz

Mundo Nuevo Mine, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru 

4.2x 4.1x 3.0 cm

$90

A specimen from of the new finds at Tucson this year, which produced some of the best huebnerites found anywhere since the 1980's.

This specimen boasts a lustrous, terminated huebnerite perched on a cluster of terminated quartz crystals.

TX29 Pyromorphite pseudomorph after Cerussite

Balliway Rigg, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, United Kingdom  

4.7x 2.6x 1.7 cm

$165

A very unusual English pyromorphite, in which the mineral occurs as a pseudomorph after a spray of cerussite crystals. 

The cerussite has been largely replaced by the pyromorphite, but in the case of at least one cerussite crystal, it has been coated by pyromorphite and then dissolved away, leaving a tube.

TX30 Khaidarkanite

Khaidarkan  Sb-Hg deposit, Fergana Valley, Osh District, Kyrgyzstan
6.8x 4.9x 3.6 cm

$385

A rare specimen of khaidarkanite from the type locality.  Even more unusual is its size-- cabinet specimens of the species are rarely encountered (but its not like there much of the stuff available in any size to begin with...)

TX31 Khaidarkanite

Khaidarkan  Sb-Hg deposit, Fergana Valley, Osh District, Kyrgyzstan
3.0x 2.6x 2.8 cm

$165

A rare specimen of khaidarkanite from the type locality.  Even more unusual is its size-- cabinet specimens of the species are rarely encountered (but its not like there much of the stuff available in any size to begin with...)

TX32 Khaidarkanite

Khaidarkan  Sb-Hg deposit, Fergana Valley, Osh District, Kyrgyzstan
4.7x 4.2x 3.0 cm

$85

A rare specimen of khaidarkanite from the type locality.  This specimen has a single tuft of the mineral, largely protected by its position in a small vug.  The color is very bright, and it looks very nice under a loup.

TX33 Wulfenite with Mimetite

San Juan Potente Vein, Level 6, Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

TX34 Lindgrenite

Copper Creek Canyon, Bunker Hill District,, Galiuro Mts, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
6.5x 5.8x 2.8 cm

$85

No, it's not moss or lichen.  This is a rich specimen of the rare copper molybdate, lindgrenite. This locality has produced some of the best examples of the species found in the US.

TX35 Betafite

Silver Crater Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada

TX36 Uraninite

Cardiff Uranium Mines, Cardiff Township, Ontario, Canada

.9x .9 x .7 cm