OKF-560		Back
Bottom		Custom engraved acrylic base.

OKF-560    Fluorite on Quartz     Xie Fan Mine, Jianxi Prov., China.  I don’t tend to carry a whole lot of specimens which I would consider to be the best of their kind.  This piece however is the best of a find that came out of China two years ago and has yet to be topped.  I have seen a few dozen chunks of fluorite and a few good miniatures from this find.  Also, I own another, bigger, specimen from this find but it is not as displayable as this one.  Specimens from this limited find seem to almost always have damage, too.  This specimen measures 10.6 x 7.5 x 6 cm with cuboctahedral fluorites to 5 cm in diameter on milky quartz crystals to 5.8 cm in length.  The entire specimen is a floater which was attached to other crystallized rock but has since separated and regrown crystal faces on those broken surfaces.  The fluorites are a light sea green color and have interesting inclusions totally unique to this find.  Inside the crystals on a lower level (earlier crystal surfaces) there are several forms of inclusions.  The white spots could be anything, most likely tiny calcites or dolomites.  The brown dendritic inclusions however are more complex.  No analysis of these is known to me, but I believe they are branching groups of pyrite crystals which in some cases have altered to goethite on their ends (which were likely once exposed to oxygen).  The backsides of the fluorites are stepped in growth while the fronts are very clean.  Most surfaces look slightly etched (frosted) but this is an overgrowth of cubic crystal faces.  There is no damage to this exceptional display piece.  This is a world class fluorite specimen form a find which appears to be exhausted.   2,900$

OKI-081
		Custom engraved acrylic base. (Proper color image)

OKI-081    Aquamarine and Quartz    Xue Bao Ding Mine, Ping Wu, Sichuan Prov., China.  Here is a superb grouping of tabular crystals to 6 cm each.  The cluster measures 13.5 x 9.5 x 5.5 cm.  The back of the specimen was once attached to matrix but is now regrown so would classify as a floater in most books.  The color varies from almost clear (goshenite) to a nice blue typical, perhaps slightly darker than most, for this locale.  Several of the crystals stand up high on edge off the matrix.  It’s one of those specimens that you will have fun inspecting time and time again, finding new things each time you do.  The quartz are scattered on the surface and the matrix is both quartz and muscovite.  Nice surface growth features add interest.  This is a fine example of why Chinese aquas are so desirable.  Great piece!  1,300$

 

 

 

 

OKF-419		Bottom?
	Close up	Custom engraved acrylic base.

OKF-419        Azurite Ball    Yangchun Mine, Mao Ming, Guangdong Prov., China.   China has rarely been able to compete with fine American and South African azurite specimens… pieces like this are an exception.  This is the best of these specimens that I have owned over the many years that they have been available.  The ball measures 8 cm in diameter and has crystals to 1.8 cm (with most averaging better than a cm each).  It is of the highest luster and deepest blue color that can be found for the species anywhere.  All sides are equally well mineralized with the exception of one (which has smaller crystals).  This damage free ball is a stunning eye catcher in even the most aesthetic display case.  Holding this fine piece really brings home how substantial it is.  I have sold many higher priced azurites over the years, but I believe this may be the finest azurite I have ever owned.  Thankfully the Chinese specimens have not been in as high demand as domestic and African varieties.  A fine value at…1,500$

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKF-413
Bottom...showing some transparency.		Custom engraved acrylic base.

OKF-413         Scheelite    Xiang Fang Pu Mine, Chen Zhou, Hunan Prov., China.  This would be a rare addition to any Chinese collector’s suite.  Known for several years, these scheelite crystals rival the Ping Wu specimens in size and form, but are obviously a completely different color.  This one is the nicest I have ever seen or am aware of.  It measures 8.3 x 7.3 x 8 cm and is a complete floater cluster.  The largest crystal is a whopping 6 cm on edge.  The luster is very high on this steel gray piece and there is only a small area of contact which is hardly noteworthy and certainly not distracting.  Some areas are translucent to transparent but the majority of the specimen is slightly translucent to opaque.  When hit with a UV light it fluoresces a wonderful, BRIGHT, blue.  It’s not often that one can acquire an absolutely stunning specimen which is the best of its kind for a price this low.  This would rank among the very best scheelites to be found anywhere in the world.   1,700$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-127		Top of crystal

OKE-127    Elbaite, Quartz, Feldspar and Mica    Yunnan, Wenshan Prov., China.  This is a special and rather unique piece.  I only found the single specimen at the 2007 Tucson Show and what a winner it is!  Measuring 8.5 x 6.5 x 5.5 it is a substantial specimen with a large, almost black, tourmaline wrapped in feldspar, quartz crystals and interesting mica plates.  There are lots of tiny thinner tourmalines (to 1.5 cm) which show a nice green color.  The big primary crystal is 8 cm long and 2.2 cm thick.  There is a thin ding which does not distract from the specimen’s appearance and certainly does no take away from the importance of this piece.  The quartz crystals are clear and well formed.  The feldspars are bright white and the mica forms thick flat books which are composed of aggregates of tiny, translucent, silver white crystals.  What a nice specimen this one is even though I have it poorly positioned in these photos!  800$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-270

OKE-270    Azurite Ball    Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China.  I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location.  They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals.  I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up.  There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on.  They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this.  They were certainly few and far between then.  Now they are nearly impossible to find.  This ball is well formed measuring 8 x 6.9 x 5.8 cm and is the top deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well).  The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals averaging about .5 to a cm on single edges.  Minor touch marks to a few crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece.  A free floater which is displayable from any angle and quite amazing.  A exceptional, aesthetic and rare specimen at this level of quality.  1,100$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-175
		Custom engraved acrylic base (proper color on this one)

OKE-175    Aquamarine and Muscovite    (2007 Specimen)   Xue Bao Ding Mine, Ping Wu, Sichuan Prov., China.  This cluster is composed of deep blue crystals to 6.5 cm wide, 6 cm high and 4.2 cm deep with very complex form.  Some unusual faces present here with which I am unfamiliar.  There is thick shelf of muscovite separates the largest crystal and its riders from a layer of smaller crystal which make up the base of the piece.  Overall measurements are 9.5 x 9.2 x 8 cm.  The piece displays several different ways.  The entire piece is a floater with only a couple tint attachment marks to quartz (on the bottom of specimen).  The top of the main crystal which has a regrown contact mark which is distracting when viewed from the top down.  At, or above, eye level this isn’t and issue.  A fine piece in all regards.  Excellent specimen!  1,200$

 

 

 

 

OKE-130

OKE-130    Azurite Ball    Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. Here is one of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location.  It is highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals.  I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up.  There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on.  They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this.  They were certainly few and far between then.  Now they are nearly impossible to find.  This ball is well formed measuring 8 x 7 x 7 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well).  The crystals are thick and blocky and very large.  Some crystals are up to 2.2 cm each and most are well over a cm on edge.  This floater is displayable from any angle and quite amazing.  There are a couple minor rubs that are not readily evident.  This is a top shelf azurite specimen at a low price due to the overall lack of appreciation of these fine minerals from China.  Killer specimen….   1,200$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-161

OKE-161    Fluorite    Xianghuapu, Linwu County, Chenzhou District, Hunan Prov., China.   Huge cluster of green cubes to \over 4 cm each on edge.  The cluster is a dome shaped piece which is in excellent condition.  There are two or three small rubs and one badly dinged cube on the backside.  Great condition for such a large piece.  Approximately 28 x 22 x 14 cm in size.  Cubes have great clarity and a frosted surface effect yet retains a nice satin luster.  Nice phantoms in some crystals.  The matrix is brown and can be viewed through many of the crystals and between them in a coulpe of places.  A fine specimen to bring some size contrast to a collection focusing on smaller specimens or an excellent home decor piece.  1,950$

 

 

 

 

 

OKE-169	Back?	Fluorite on quartz and 2nd generation rhodo on 1st gen rhodo
Fluorite close up

OKE-169    Rhodochrosite, Quartz, Fluorite   Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China.   (I was told it was from Ba Pu, Guanxi Prov., China but I am 95% sure this is wrong and its owes its origins to the Yaogangxian Mine).   Most people have only recently become aware of rhodochrosite form China due to its influx beginning in 2005.  Truth is the material has trickled in for over a decade but in extremely small amounts, none of which has ever been very good.  I have followed this mineral closely over those years and have never found a finer, larger crystal than the one viewed here.  The rhodos from China are generally very poor.  Usually tabular and light pink in color no one has ever gotten too excited about them.  This crystal is 5.1 cm wide and 4.1 cm high.  It is very thin and translucent with the typical pink color.  Lots of other surface interest including fluorites, quartz, quartz capped by fluorite and a second generation of fluorite.  Small chip on one edge otherwise damage free.  I have this mounted showing the damage but it could easily be mounted in a way which would hide it.  This is truly an exceptional find which must rank as one of the top crystals to ever be found in China.  It would be an outstanding addition to any Chinese or rhodo collection.  Very displayable and desirable but not at a outrageous, rhodo type price.  This one can be yours for…. 1,700$

 

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