Fine Mineral Specimens - Gallery VIII
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Calcite - $2250
La Florida Mine, Torrelavega, Spain
10.4 x 6.7 x 8.2 cm
MMS-167 - A naturally faceted jewel, this transparent calcite crystal sits regally atop a bed of amber calcite. All told, 32 faces are visible, with the crystal measuring 42 x 45 x 35 mm. The calcite is complete all around. A superb calcite for any collection!
  
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Wulfenite - $6950
Ruoqiang Co., Xinjiang-Uygur A.R., China
11.4 x 8.3 x 6.8 cm
MMS-171 - This plate of reddish-orange, translucent wulfenite crystals has the look of a piece from the San Francisco mine and color approaching those from Red Cloud. With concentric zoning and chisel point terminations, the crystals reach 2.3cm. Very three-dimensional with some minor damage on the peripheral. From a remote area in China, it is apparent that these specimens are not found in appreciable numbers.
 
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Beryl var. Aquamarine - SOLD
Shigar Valley, Baltistan, Pakistan
8.6 x 2.7 x 1.9 cm
- ex Irv Brown Collection
MMS-111 - This piece is so sharp and so water-clear that it comes as close to a natural gemstone as nature has blessed us with from her generous depths. Muscovite blades attached near the base add contrasting color and texture. From the remote northern areas of Pakistan, high in the Himalayas, aquamarines of this quality are certain to become even more scarce given the current state of the region.
  
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Galena with Pyrite - $975
West Fork Mine, Viburnum Trend Dist., Reynolds Co., Missouri
8.3 x 4.3 x 6.1 cm
MMS-156 - An American classic...cubic galena crystals line the horizon above highly irridescent, octahedral galena coated by bornite. An overgrowth of globular pyrite crystals provides texture contrast, making this a very attractive piece.
  
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Cumengeite, Boleite, Pseudo-Boleite - SOLD
Amelia Mine, Santa Rosalía, Boleó Dist., Mexico
3.0 x 2.1 x 1.7 cm
- ex John Barlow Collection
MMS-143 - Geologic splendor on display...a boleite crystal hosts several cumengeite pyramids growing off its cubic faces. On one of the pyramids, a 1-mm thick pseudo-boleite formed, adding a third dimension to this very rare combination piece. Illustrated in The F. John Barlow Mineral Collection, Plate #10-25.
 
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Cerussite on Matrix - $1350
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
6.4 x 4.2 x 4.6 cm
MMS-160 - "Nature's leaded glass," these unusually thick, reticulated cerussite crystals on matrix are highly gemmy and lustrous. Tsumeb cerussites set the standard for the species. Due to the mineral's softness, few specimens remain on matrix.
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Cobaltoan-Calcite - SOLD
Bou Azzer, Morocco
3.5 x 2.9 x 2.4 cm
MMB-505 - Rarely does vibrant pink cobaltoan-calcite form in prismatic crystals of this size (to 1.8cm), especially given their translucency. Careful trimming has isolated the damage-free main crystals to make this a high-quality miniature specimen.
  
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Scapolite - SOLD
Badakshan Province, Afghanistan
6.1 x 3.6 x 3.0 cm
MMS-148 - Purple scapolite on matrix. What else is there to say? Note the lustrous, striated faces and the angled termination, the saturated purple color...this piece will draw attention from even the most jaded of collectors. The termination has some minor damage visible on the right side of the photo, but this is more than compensated by the overall appeal of the piece.
  
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Ferberite with Fluorite - $850
Yaogangxian, Hunan Prov., China
5.7 x 5.0 x 4.6 cm
- ex Irv Brown Collection
MMB-338 - Several ferberite crystals forming a triangle host fluorite cubes and a lavender layer of drusy fluorite. Pristine from any angle, this is a superb Chinese miniature specimen that is truly much better than photos indicate.
  
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Tourmaline - $2500
Paprok, Nuristan, Afghanistan
5.5 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm
MMB-502 - A natural gem, very few tourmalines from Paprok approach the rich, juicy colors of this piece. Each layer of color is an individual phantom, matching the final angle of the termination. Even more gemmy in person, this piece displays well with or without back-lighting (minor back-lighting here).
  
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