Fine Mineral Specimens - Gallery XIV          

Grossular Garnet - $7500
Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
5.4 x 4.2 x 3.0 cm

MMS-104 - Numerous transparent grossular crystals lie isolated on a bed of prismatic yellowish-green diopside. Sharply formed and striated, garnets from the Jeffrey Mine are considered to be arguably the finest gem grossulars in the world. Actually an asbestos quarry, the locality is mostly inactive, meaning top specimens only rarely come to market from private collections.

*Cut stone available*

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Beryl var. Aquamarine - SOLD
Shigar Valley, Baltistan, Pakistan
5.0 x 3.0 x 3.4 cm

MMB-504 - An aquamarine crystal with a complex termination rises from a matrix of cleavelandite and albite, which serves to provide texture contrast and attracts the eye to the blue of the aqua. Included tantalite crystals (right side) and a quartz crystal tucked among the cleavelandite rosettes make this piece worthy of quiet contemplation.

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Sulfur on Aragonite - $1750
Miniera Cozzodisi, Casteltermini, Sicily, Italy
6.5 x 4.8 x 3.3 cm
- ex Francis Benjamin Collection

MMS-140 - This isolated, canary-yellow sulfur crystal is unusually gemmy and sharp, showing 20 distinct faces. Numerous other bitumen-coated crystals mingle among radial clusters of white aragonite. Rare in such quality, this well-balanced miniature is truly worthy of competitive display.

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Tanzanite on Selenite - $5500
Merelani, Umba Valley, Arusha, Tanzania
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 cm

MMB-513 - The gem tanzanite crystal formed in a most unusual place: on a selenite matrix! To appreciate the rarity of this combination, one must first consider that very few matrix tanzanite specimens of any quality have been taken from the mines of Merelani. Of those, the matrix is almost always graphite. Selenite...(almost) unheard of.

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Pyromorphite - ON HOLD
Bunker Hill Properties, Kellogg, Shoshone Co., Idaho
2.7 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm

MMB-503 - Saturated color and obscene luster make this a top-notch Bunker Hill thumbnail, especially considering it is largely free of any damage. Clearly the best pyromorphites from North America, specimens of this quality rival those produced anywhere else in the world.

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Galena, Barite, Fluorite - $1150
Elmwood mine, Carthage, Smith Co., Tennessee
3.5 x 3.3 x 2.9 cm

MMB-506 - A study in contrasting colors and textures, the etched surface of the purple fluorite accentuates the metallic luster of the euhedral galena crystal. Barite arrowhead crystals add a third dimension, making this a choice, competition-quality miniature.

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Beryl var. Aquamarine & Fluorite - $7950
near Aliabad, Nagar, Gilgit, Pakistan
12.0 x 8.2 x 5.0 cm
- ex Irv Brown Collection

MMS-122 - A superb combination piece from Pakistan showcasing a pristine, gemmy and green cuboctahedral fluorite crystal (32x32x27mm) tilted slightly toward a well-formed, transparent aquamarine (22x22x35mm) all on a bed of unblemished muscovite. A surprise awaits under the fluorite visible in the photo--a yellow fluorite is tucked away among the muscovite blades.

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Silver on Copper - $2500
Wolverine Mine, Houghton Co., Michigan
3.8 x 2.4 x 2.0 cm

MMS-154 - Sharp, twinned silver crystals rise from a matrix of bright native copper. The positioning of the silver and the overall economy of the piece--nothing extra included, nothing missing--make this a competition-quality miniature.

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Wulfenite, Malachite, Dolomite - $5000
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
9.6 x 6.2 x 5.7 cm

MMS-110 - In addition to the sharp window-pane wulfenite crystals (to 20mm), pale gray, bladed dolomite rosettes are distributed on a dark green botryoidal malachite layer likely pseudomorphed after tennantite. Close examination reveals prismatic azurite also likely pseudomorphed after tennantite. Considered by many collectors to be the most important ore body ever discovered, Tsumeb produced a wealth of fantastic specimens. Top quality pieces show promise to rise substantially in value.

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