Chinese Bournonite Specimens
The Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., has been producing specimens of the rare mineral bournonite from numerous years. This uncommon mineral is always a tough one to find in good crystals and seldom appears on the market as matrix specimen. It is certainly a connoisseur's mineral. Recently the Yaogangxian Mine in China coughed out a few fine examples, many of which appear below. I have never had, or seen elsewhere, such a good selection of these fine crystals. Many of these are in interesting combinations with other crystals and even some down right unusual minerals like jamesonite, rhodochrosite, apatite, etc. If you are thinking of investing in one of these important specimens this could be the time to do so. I know you might occasionally find cheaper ones elsewhere but I do not believe you will find ones of this quality to be common place at the prices offered here.
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OKE-283 Bournonite and Muscovite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Beautiful floater crystal of bournonite with coatings of muscovite. This is a high quality, aesthetic floater with some crystal regrowth on the backside. It is always rare to find these specimens free of damage so this alone makes this piece desirable. Deeply striated, highest luster, and nice complexities makes this a fine display specimen. 3.1 x 2.2 x 2 cm. They don’t get much more attractive than this. 350$
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OKE-284 Bournonite, Rhodochrosite and Muscovite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Beautiful and large floater crystal of bournonite with minor coatings of muscovite and rhodochrosite. This is a high quality, aesthetic floater with two small chips chip which are on the back of the piece. One fluorite also has a cleave but neither of this things are distracting with the crystal positioned correctly. Seldom are these specimens this aesthetic. The rhodos are not impressive being complete but light tan in color. The fluorites are purple with mild phantoms. Deeply striated, highest luster and nice complexities to both terminations makes this a fine display specimen. 4.1 x 3.5 x 2.8 cm. They don’t get much more attractive than this. 400$
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OKE-285 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Beautiful floater crystal of bournonite with coatings of myscovite. This is a high quality, aesthetic floater with total crystal regrowth on the base. There are several small dings here and there but this is still a fine display specimen of exceptional size. Deeply striated, highest luster, and nice complexities makes this a fine specimen. 6 x 4.8 x 2.3 cm thick. They don’t get much more attractive than this. 250$
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OKE-286 Bournonite, Quartz and Pyrite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Big, highly complex matrix bournonite. This is a high quality piece with what is really one very large, highly dissected crystal of high luster. Most parts of the crystal are double terminated. There is no real damage but there are two small contacts neat the edges on the backside of the piece. Bottom is a mix of contacts and crystalline surfaces. 6 x 5.9 x 4 cm. They don’t get much more attractive than this. 350$
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OKE-267 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. 4.4 x 3.4 x 2.2 cm high luster crystal with good form and termination. Front views nicely with only a couple minor tick makes. Back side is very nice but has two more noticeable dings. Great price is a reflection of my having a good a good inventory of these specimens at this time. 180$
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OKE-268 Bournonite, Calcite and Quartz Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. 2.9 x 2.7 x 2 cm high luster, double terminated crystal with superior complex form and outstanding terminations. Front views and sides are excellent with small brown clusters of bladed calcites. Only damage is a large contact area on back which is not viewable except directly from back. Piece sits upright on basil termination or on its side or on the contact area as base. However you choose to display it is is an exceptional specimen of this uncommon mineral. Fits in a thumbnail case. It displays as a damage fee, competition level TN specimen. Very low price for a piece of this quality. 300$
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OKE-212 Jamesonite and Chalcopyrite on Bournonite with Quartz Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. An attractive and unusual combination pieces from the now famous Yaogangxian Mine. The bournonite is totally coated by jamesonite needles and chalcos of nice form. 4.2 x 4.2 x 3.8 cm. The quartz is badly damaged and there are numerous crystal contacts but this still is an interesting and unusual specimen. 250$
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OKE-208 Bournonite on Quartz Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A large quartz point which has two double terminated bournonite crystals which are partially embedded in the quartz. The bournites are of exceptional luster and form. The largest has a 2 millimeter ding which I found when using magnification. Nice matrix bournonite specimen. 400$
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OKE-200 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A very high luster thumbnail sized crystal, 2.5 x 1.6 x 1.7 cm Two chips on sides but front view and top views are nice. 290$
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OKE-136 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. This sweet crystal is unusual in how elongated it is which is quite uncommon for bournonite. It measures 4.5 cm tall by 2 cm wide. It is highly lustrous and beautiffuly striated (sixling twinned). There is one crystal contact on the backside which is visible in the photo. There is no damage to this perfectly terminated example. A highly desirable specimen. 385$
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OKE-172 Bournonite, Quartz and Unknown Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Beautiful floater crystal of bournonite with one small quartz crystal and a tan platy unknown mineral which looks very much like mica (it is not…hardness is too great). The bournonite has a chip off one corner which should not show…make this the base or back. Deeply striated, highest luster, and nice complexities makes this a fine display specimen. 3.4 x 2.1 x 2 cm. 300$
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OKE-176 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A monster piece with a single termination and complex, sixling twinned form. Needs some TLC. Cleaning of the oxidized areas is in order. Numerous crystal contacts on back of the piece make the backside inappropriate for display. One old (probably in-situe) chip to the front termination. Good sides. The bournonite has a chip off one corner which should not show…make this the base or back. Good but not top luster. 6 x 5 x 3.6 cm. 520$
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OKE-178 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A beautiful piece which is double terminated and has the typical complex, sixling twinned form. It is highly lustrous and enjoyable to view. Will just fit into a thumbnail box…2.5 x 2.4 x 2.3. Perfect upper termination and one chip off of lower on (Facing to back). An exceptional example for the price. 225$
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OKE-186 Jamesonite on Bournonite, Arsenopyrite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. This is one of several very unusual Yaogangxian Mine mineral combinations to be found at Tucson this year. I have seen two of these with one other dealer and no others. If you’d like to pick one up and not pay several thousands of dollars, here it is. This piece is a double terminated, elongated crystal of bournonite measuring 6.2 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm and which is totally coated by jamesonite needles. On this are a number of nicely formed, metallic arsenopyrites. There is one crystal contact on what I would refer to as the specimen’s backside and and the cleaved surface of a fluorite cube on which the specimen should sit. It is a fine and certainly unusual specimen for a fraction of that might be expected for such an unusual specimen…..500$
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OKE-189 Jamesonite on Bournonite, Quartz and Arsenopyrite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. An attractive and unusual combination pieces from the now famous Yaogangxian Mine. The main crystals are a large quartz and a nice high luster, double terminated bournonite measuring 1.9 cm long. There are a couple thin cracks I the crystal and a tiny chip now mostly filled by an unknown mineral. There are plenty of arsenopyrites and tiny needle like quartz crystals. Amongst these are sprays of needle like jamesonite crystals. Everything is quite aesthetic and presentable. An excellent miniature. 350$
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OKE-192 Bournonite Arsenopyrite and Jamesonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. A beautiful piece sticks out from its massive bournonite matrix and has the typical complex, sixling twinned form. It is highly lustrous and enjoyable to view. It measures 3.5 x 2.5 x 3.2 cm. Totally flawless with zero damage. The arsenos and jamesonites are at the base of the bournonite and do not distract from the specimen. One of the nicest small specimens of this material that I have seen in many years. An exceptional example for the price. 350$
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OKE-045 Jamesonite on Bournonite, Arsenopyrite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. This is one of several very unusual Yaogangxian Mine mineral combinations to be found at Tucson this year. I have seen two of these with one other dealer and no others. If you’d like to pick one up and not pay several thousands of dollars, here it is. This piece is a double terminated, elongated crystal of bournonite measuring 3.7 x 2.4 x 2.5 cm and which is totally coated by jamesonite needles. On this are a number of nicely formed, metallic arsenopyrites. There is one crystal contact on what I would refer to as the specimen’s backside and no damage. It is a fine and certainly unusual specimen for a fraction of that might be expected for such an unusual specimen…..200$
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OKE-049 Jamesonite on Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. This is one of several very unusual Yaogangxian Mine mineral combinations to be found at Tucson this year. I have seen two of these with one other dealer and no others. If you’d like to pick one up and not pay several thousands of dollars, here it is. This piece is a stocky double terminated 3.3 x 5 x 3.5 cm crystal of bournonite which has its top termination coated by jamesonite needles. On this there appears to be several stannite ball but I can be sure that this is what they are. There is a tiny ding on one back corner which will go unnoticed without magnification. It is a fine and certainly unusual specimen for a no brainer price…..200$
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OKE-053 Bournonite Yaogangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang County, Hunan Prov., China. Here is an exceptionally clean bournonite with the highest of lusters. A single chip on the lower side of one edge which does not distract from the high quality of this exceptional double terminated crystal. 3.2 x 2 x 2 cm overall. A fine display piece. 325$
