A9504875) Acanthite - Imiter Mine, Boumalne-Dadès, Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco Size: 5.7 x 3.8 x 3.0 cm (miniature) Price: $ 400
Located about 20 km east of Boumalne-Dadès, this silver mine has recently been producing some very good specimens. The miniature shown here is excellent for acanthite, with dendritic semi-lustrous metallic sparkling crystals forming a matrix-less floater cluster. Complete all around and damage-free. The largest crystal measures almost 4.0 cm in length. Very nice! B2484295) Barite with Fluorite, Calcite & Sphalerite - Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA Size: 19.3 x 16.0 x 8.8 cm (cabinet) Price: $ 1500 - ON HOLD
A superb large cabinet piece from the southern Illinois fluorspar district! A sphalerite matrix is mostly covered by creamy sparkling white crystals of barite to 2.5 cm in size. These are partly covering crystals of fluorite to 2.2 cm on edge. There are minor calcite crystals to 1.1 cm in size scattered about. The piece sits up perfectly for display by itself and is damage-free. This mine closed in early 1996. A choice U.S. classic! Ref: The Mineralogical Record (1997): 28(1): 11. C9503997) Clinohumite - Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan Size: 4.3 x 3.4 x 1.5 cm (miniature) Price: $ 1250
An excellent sharp large crystal for this species. A reddish-brown clinohumite crystal measuring 2.1 x 0.8 x 0.6 cm in size is nestled nicely within a greenish mica matrix. In great condition damage-wise; very choice for the species! G9511905) Grossular - Jeffrey Mine (Jeffrey Quarry), Asbestos, Shipton Township, Richmond Co., Québec, Canada Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.1 cm (miniature) Price: P.O.R.
The Jeffrey Mine in Quebec is known throughout the world as one of the best localities for grossular. Great specimens have been available for many years. With the decline in demand for asbestos, the mine is worked only very infrequently. The specimen shown here is an absolute "killer" for the species. An enormous cinnamon colored crystal measuring 3.1 cm across is perched attractively upon a rib of matrix with other smaller grossular crystals. The crystal is almost complete all around 360 degrees, with some matrix on the back side as seen in the photos. Microscopic chipping is present in a couple of areas, this not easily seen and to me very insignificant. The crystal is translucent; this is quite unusual I think for such a large crystal. The luster is good. Easily the large grossular crystal from Asbestos that I have seen, especially in top quality. An absolutely superb miniature specimen! Ref: The Mineralogical Record, 10(2),pp:69-80; Le Règne Minéral(37),pp:10-34. P9504735) Pyromorphite - Daoping Mine, Gongcheng Co., Guilin Prefecture, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Size: 4.0 x 2.1 x 1.4 cm (miniature) Price: $ 300
This example is a very high quality grouping of skeletal beautiful green lustrous pyromorphite crystals without matrix. Completely crystallized all around and free of damage. The quality is outstanding for the species at this locality! Ref: The Mineralogical Record 36(1) 25-33. S9500207) Scheelite - Beryl-Scheelite deposit, Mt Xuebaoding, Pingwu Co., Mianyang Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China Size: 13.0 x 12.1 x 8.2 cm (cabinet) Price: P.O.R.
Since specimens from this locality first started appearing on the mineral market in the early 1990's, the scheelites from here have set world standards. In my early days of collecting and dealing in minerals I never dreamed that scheelite could do this. The example shown here is the finest we have handled. A glowing orange lustrous compound grouping of crystals measuring 10.7 x 10.2 x 9.0 cm in size is set up perfectly on a matrix of silvery crystallized muscovite. There is one tiny microscopic "rub" on one of the crystal corners; to me this is totally insignificant and cannot be seen with the naked eye. The crystal is completely crystallized all around. There are numerous areas of transparency showing gem scheelite throughout. The quality is outstanding for such a large crystal of the species! Ref: The Mineralogical Record 36(1), 45-57.
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