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February 2009 Update
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OKF-491 Apophyllite Cornwall Iron Mine, Cornwall, Lebanon, Co., PA. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. 3.5 x 2.8 x 2.1 cm ball of crystals with individuals to 1.8 cm. Fine luster and no damage to this aesthetic piece. Classic east coast locale. 75$
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OKF-492 Dioptase Reneville, Congo An average specimen with one good display face. 3.8 x 2.4 x 2.2 cm overall. Sides and base are broken matrix, also dioptase, but display face isn’t too bad. 40$
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OKF-493 Barite Elk Creek, South Dakota. Classic US locality. This single crystal is 3.4 cm in length and gemmy throughout. There is a second crystal contact which runs half the length of one side but the crystal is undamaged. Interesting morphology and fantastic color. 50$
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OKF-494 Dioptase Reneville, Congo An excellent example measuring 3.5 x 2.5 x 2.2 cm. The largest crystal is well over 2 cm. Fantastic color with lighter green inclusions. Damage free primary crystals. Very showy thumbnail at a VERY reasonable price. 60$
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OKF-467 Quartz and Calcite Biggeden, Australia. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection, prev. Lewis Beebe, 1976. Unusual locality! This 3.5 cm singly terminated quartz is frosted by tan colored micro quartz on exactly half (thankfully its back half) of the crystal. Attached are clear calcites which contrast the quartz nicely. The form variations, layout of the minerals and sharpness of the specimen all add to this pieces appeal. A small internal bruise can be seen on the largest of the calcites but is not distracting. This could be a magazine cover worthy specimen if properly photographed. 150$
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OKF-468 Grossular Vilui River, Yakutsk, Siberia, Russia. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection, prev. Lewis Beebe, 1976. A nice green floater with no damage. 1.9 cm long crystal. Transparent to a short depth into the specimen but more accurately described as translucent to opaque overall. 40$
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OKF-469 Danburite Chapare Prov., Bolivia. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. A 2.4 x 1.7 x 1.2 cm floater of light gray color from an unusual location. This site was recently documented in Rocks and Minerals Magazine, Mar./April 2008, Vol 83, No. 2 on pages 114 to 123. On page 118 you will find a similar specimen from John White's collection. There looks to be a couple small chips on this specimen at first glance but these are regrown crystal surface. Light striations and lots of unusual growth features on the crystal faces. Transparent to translucent. Unusual and displayable specimen. 40$
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OKF-597 Herkimer Diamond Cluster Treasure Mountain Mine, Little Falls, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2002. A nice clear cluster with moderate anthraxolite near its base. It measures 3.6 x 3.3 x 2.7 cm. Only damage is a small chip from the base of the large crystal. This should never show (base of specimen). Floater. Very nice and way below the prices you will see with other Herk dealers! 65$
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OKF-598 Titanite Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. From the same pocket which produced what I believe to be the best titanite ever found in New York State! This is a fine cluster of deep brown crystal in parallel growth. 3.9 x 3 x 1.8 cm in size with a basil contact. Tiny bit of diopside on one edge. Far better than most for the local and damage free. This is expensive for a titanite but these are nearly impossible to find in this quality. It is an open site so if you try your luck you’ll see this is true. Actually, good New York State titanites from anywhere are rare. An outstanding example….80$
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OKF-600 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. One of the better high luster specimen from this summer long dig. The specimen measures 7.4 x 5 x 4.5 cm and has 3 primary diopsides to 5 cm each. The biggest crystal sits up high on the specimen, is double terminated and nice in form. Some terminations are very nice some crude. The feldspars are crude as is almost always the case at this local. This is an important specimen which is almost never available for sale. The folks who find nice ones like these almost always keep them. This is better than most museum pieces form this local. Better in person. I was lucky enough to find many of the best specimen ever recovered from this locale so I obviously need to part with some of them. Sits great, views well from all sides and is damage free. 175$
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OKF-602 Fluorite Penfield Quarry, New York. Ex. Nancy Collins collection. A 1.2 cm cube high up on a gray matrix. The cube has a small corner chip so the price is substantially adjusted. The color is a very light yellow and it is transparent with moderate internal fracturing. 8.5 x 5.5 x 4 cm overall but could be trimmed down to a miniature of very nice TN easily. The matrix on which the crystal lies is fragmental and easy to work. 60$
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OKF-603 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) with Quartz and Diopside pseudomorphs after Wollastonite (minor titanite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. This is the best specimen from the locality which I have offered for sale. The diopside crystals are a fantastic rich green color, high in luster and most all are double terminated reaching 2.5 cm each. They are slightly morphed but far less so than is usual for the Pitcairn occurrence. The albites are better than usual too. There are a couple partially formed wollastonites that are replaced by quartz and one replaced by quartz and diopside both. This is a rare floater which measures 7.3 x 5.5 x 4.3 cm. There is one small diopside with a cleave otherwise totally damage free and very displayable. You will find a few small double terminated titanite crystals on the albite and diopside crystals too but they are small. One could search a lifetime at this locality to find a comparable specimen. In hand you will see that this is a fantastic specimen. Certainly museum quality. 490$
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OKF-606 Titanite on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. A great matrix titanite of exceedingly high luster and perfect form. It lies embedded in the feldspar matrix showing great contrast due to the color differences. The crystal measures 2.7 cm long. Two other minor crystals are present near the top and on the side of the specimen. Cheap! For a nice NYS titanite of this high a quality. 90$
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OKF-585 Calcite on Dolomite Hanson Quarry, St. Johnsville, New York. Ex. James Cranston collection. A fine miniature which sports a large parallel growth group of translucent to transparent crystals of the typical yellow color for the locale. They have moderate to heavy inclusions of marcasite on the backside. All views are good so backside may be a poor way of saying this as any side displays so well. Minor edge and base contact which is expected and all display faces are clean. 4.6 x 3 x 3 cm. Great luster and a fine specimen. 90$
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OKF-586 Sphalerite on Magnetite Zinc Corp of America Mine, Pierrepont, New York. 6 x 6 x 3.9 cm. Most of display face is coated by dark magnetite crystals and on these are twins of sphalerite. The crystal are yellow and gemmy reaching .5 cm each. They blend in rather well which is a drawback to this specimen. No damage. 35$
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OKF-588 Diopside on Albite (var. Antiperthite) Pitcairn, New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 2007. A very nice specimen which displays only moderately well. It is a substantial specimen measuring in at 7.5 x 6.2 x 4 cm with 2 primary double terminated diopsides to 7 cm each. They are fairly well coated by albite overgrows which distract from the quality of the diopsides. Floater with only a small area of contact on the backside involving two of the diopsides. Brown areas are goethite after pyrite. 200$
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OKF-589 Sphalerite on Calcite Zinc Corp. of America Mine, Talcville, New York. Tiny bright yellow, gem sphalerite crystals are scattered about on the front and back of this piece. It measures 7.2 x 5.5 x 3.2 cm overall and has crystals of sphalerite to .6 cm each. Contact along one edge and a couple small areas that were contacts or are minor scuffs. Generally it is in good shape with fine gemmy yellow crystals that stand out well. A very nice price….45$
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OKF-591 Cubic Magnetite 2,500 foot level, ZCA #4 Mine, Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Ex. Eric Edy collection. A good coverage of this rare crystal form of magnetite on the primary display face of this 6.8 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm specimen. The crystals are up to 1 cm on edge and have a nice luster. A couple small barren areas where crystals once were but it is better than most…especially at this price. 40$
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OKF-593 Cubic Magnetite RESERVED 2,500 foot level, ZCA #4 Mine, Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Ex. Eric Edy collection. A very nice example with large crystals to 1.7 cm on edge. Modifications to the cubes, great luster and minor anhydrite for contrast all make this a better than average piece. The anhydrite could be easily removed but I like it as it provides color contrast. Only one small contact area on which the specimen should sit when displayed. A fine magnetite of a rare crystal form. 75$
Dodge Mine, Edwards, New York
The Dodge mine was a working iron ore mine in St. Lawrence County in 1842. A vein of hematite was mined to a shallow depth and nothing in the way of mineral specimens seemed to have made it into any museums or historic private collections. At a later date a paved road into this remote area was constructed directly over the mine tailings. In the 1970s the site was rediscovered and numerous mineral clubs made visits there. The specimens found were rarities and were never sold from what I can discover. Instead, collectors put the beta-form quartz, calcite and hematite specimens away in their personal collections.
This locale is now closed to collecting. During the fall of 2008 I worked all the soils and tailings in the right-of way of the road which was built over the mine and recovered numerous, small, but noteworthy specimens. The specimens offered here are the best of the find. For each of them there are hundreds of non-salable substandard specimens with broken, partial or poorly formed crystals. The only published image I am aware of is of one of the best pieces in the top private collection of New York State minerals. It was published in Matrix Magazine, vol. 6, #3, fall 1998, p. 133, Matrix Publishing Co., Dillsburg, PA, founded by Lawrence Conklin and Jay Lininger. These fine specimen are as nice as any I have ever seen from this locale
Selling specimens like these is problematic. No one has specimens to compare with to make an informed decision regarding cost and quality and I would say they take rather poor photos. I can safely say all are far better in hand. The best advice I can give is to say that these are important specimens which are very limited in number. If there were lots of them around, everyone would have them and they would not be the rarities which they are. These are the two very best specimens I have from this locale.
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No Catalog # 9.5 x 7 x 7 cm ball of crystals which reach 1.3 cm each. Iridescent but browner than the best iridescent specimens. Several small contacts which are no nearly as noticeable in person as they are in the pics. The largest iridescent specimen found in 2008. Sits on a base which is approx. 50% crystallized and 50% flat contact with other quartz. Many of the smaller crystals are composed of parallel growth crystal aggregates. Huge group of crystals for the Dodge mine which normally only provides TN pieces. 250$
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No Catalog # RESERVED 6.4 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm with individual crystals to 1.5 cm each. Some crystals are parallel growth aggregates but most are well formed beta variety crystals. The iridescence is nice and even on this one. The back of specimen has the smaller crystals. Contacts are less noticeable in person and on the edges of the specimen. Good display piece which is great for the local. 250$
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OKI-170 Magnesite Brumado, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Prev. Carlos Barbosa. A wonderful cluster of clear crystals to .8 cm on edge on a white matrix. This fine group shows a strong contact along one edge and very minor contact along another yet it displays well from several direction. No damage to display face(s) crystals. 5.8 x 4.5 x 3.1 cm overall dimensions. Very nice example for this species. 75$
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OKI-171 Uvite and Magnesite Brumado, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Prev. Carlos Barbosa. This nice TN specimen sports a 1.8 cm deep green, translucent uvite on a large crystal of magnesite. The magnesite has hematite phantoms, is transparent and in areas where it grades to a white color it is translucent. There are tiny uvite and magnesite riders sprinkled on the primary uvite which gives it some extra zip. Excellent luster and form to both species in this combination piece. A minor basil cleave on which the specimen sits nicely for display, otherwise a damage free floater which views very nicely from any direction. A fine piece in all regards. 95$
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OKI-172 Calcite “Clam Shell” along bank of the Indian River, Natural Bridge, New York. A short lived locality which is known to few. The specimens of calcite, like this one, actually do look very much like clam shells! 3.7 x 3.4 x 3.1 cm overall with a low luster (common to all the specimen found at this surface exposure). Translucent cream colored piece which leans to the ugly side but is an unusual find for the collector specializing in East Coast material of NYS specimens. These are actually quite rare and this is the only one I can ever remember acquiring and being able to offer for sale. 40$
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OKI-173 Adamite Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. 6 x 3.2 x 1.5 cm plate which has a single edge as its region of matrix contact. A druze of crystals coats all other sides and edges with crystals to .5 cm that range in color from clear to yellow to greenish yellow. One side the crystals are larger and the other the has very tiny ones. Side with tiny crystals has some heavily embedded clay which could stand to be removed. No damage and a fine luster. Very displayable…either face. 70$
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OKF-677 Quartz Leshan, Sichuan Prov., China. A lustrous cluster of Herk style crystals to 5.1 cm each which are transparent. They have moderate inclusions and a very slight smoky tint. The group is a floater which views fine from any side and sits well in numerous positions. Really a killer quartz specimen for a minimal cost. There are a couple tiny nicks to terminations visible with magnification that are not distracting when the specimen is viewed on display or when handled. 50$
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OKF-678 Scepter Quartz Leshan, Sichuan Prov., China. This 7.2 cm specimen is what would be referred to as a dumbbell scepter. There is a small branch on one side. Scepter form is not highly pronounced but it is there. There is a ding on one tip (small but visible) and the other has a micro ding which is evident with 10x magnification. Still a good displayable example of material that we are seeing less and less of through the past several years. 40$
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OKI-175 Sphaletite and Calcite Carthage, Tennessee. An attractive arrangement of crystals on a small section of gray limestone. It measures 7.4 x 4.2 x 2.5 cm overall and is dominated by sphalerite crystals to over 2 cm each. They are bright red and only translucent. Amber colored double terminated calcites to a cm each are on the sides and base of piece. No damage to sphalerite but there are a couple of minor contacts on edges. Some of the calcites have damage but they are on back (base) of specimen. Displays well, super high luster and lots of pop. 60$
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OKI-176 Quartz Ron Coleman’s Mine, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Collected by Michael Walter, 1998. A nice large point on minor sandstone matrix. Beautifully trimmed with several minor crystals. Largest crystal measures 8.6 cm and is gem clear. Showy and without damage. One minor internal crack. 45$
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OKI-178 Fluorite, Quartz and Hubnerite Peru. Several lustrus milky quartz crystals flank this partial octahedron of light green fluorite. The entire specimen measures 5.8 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm. The quartz have several small deep red hubnerite crystals embedded in their sides and bases. The fluorite is of the “Aztec pyramid style with cubes modifying the surfaces of the octahedrons leading to a stepped appearance. The octahedrons corners are modified as well (hexoctahedral?). There is no damage. One quartz looks dinged but it is a multiple termination and everything is clean. Sets several ways for display and is better that the photos make it out to be. A fantastic price on this one…..95$
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OKF-572 Hubnerite, Chalcopyrite, Quartz, Calcite and Tetrahedrite Casapalca, Peru. A fine, high luster display piece with a diversity of species. The calcites are the largest at over 4 cm and they sit way up on the matrix of sulfides. No damage and everything is obvious and clean. The piece sits well for viewing and limits its matrix contacts to the base and back. Not uncommon material but difficult to find in smaller specimens that are free of damage and have this diversity of mineral species. A very reasonable price….85$
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OKF-574 Vesuvianite York River Skarn Zone, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Collected by Michael Walter, 1996. 4 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm makest this a miniature but a tiny snip off the matrix and it becomes a nice TN. In either case the vesivianites are very nice for the locality which is now closed. They are a rich lustrous brown color, double terminated and stand up off the matrix for nice viewing. The largest measures .8 cm and they rest on a matrix of grossular and clinopyroxene. A nice damage free example for someone wanting to add a locality suite which will not be providing any further specimens. 90$
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OKF-576 Chalcedony Rose Saddle Mountain, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. Circ. 1990. Unusual location. Highly fluorescent specimens of concentric form. These pieces are very translucent, thin and better than most of the new material we are seeing on the market. Nice specimens to handle, wire wrap or display. This one measures 7.5 x 3.9 x 1.6 cm and has a light pink cast. No damage. 20$
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OKF-577 Chalcedony Rose Saddle Mountain, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. Circ. 1990. Unusual location. Highly fluorescent specimens of concentric form. These pieces are very translucent, thin and better than most of the new material we are seeing on the market. Nice specimens to handle, wire wrap or display. This one measures 5.8 x 4.7 x 1 cm and has a light pink cast. No damage. 20$
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OKF-578 Hematite Chub Lake, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Collected by Michael Walter, 1998. Closed locality. These small blades display well in this metallic gray example. A moderate luster and this piece has excellent form. It is a plate of crystal with a dome on one edge. Minor damage to a few blades on the domed area of the piece. 4.7 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm overall. The piece is currently on a miniature perky box. Good specimen. 45$
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OKF-579 Natrolite Red Island, Walmmarama, Hawk’s Bay, New Zealand. Ex. Bill Billing’s collection. This is classic material which I have not see available in the mineral market in a couple of decades. I don’t ever remember seeing much then either. The natrolite from this region forms in large nodules on the beaches and eroding cliffs of the locale. This was a prized specimen in this gentleman’s collection and I had to trade a killer (almost 5 inch) Hall’s Gap millerite specimen to acquire it. The piece measures 13 x 10 x 8.5 cm and sits nicely in a couple of different positions. 275$
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OKF-580 Calcite and Chalcopyrite Brushy Creek Mine, Missouri. Quite famous material recovered by Top Gem during 1994-1995 from a series of solution cavities at the mine. This specimen measures 5.5 x 5 x 4 cm. There are 2 tip cleaves which I’d display facing toward the back. 35$
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OKF-581 Calcite and Chalcopyrite Brushy Creek Mine, Missouri. Quite famous material recovered by Top Gem during 1994-1995 from a series of solution cavities at the mine. This specimen measures 7.5 x 5.5 x 5 cm. Several tip cleaves, one of which is obvious. 45$
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OKF-582 Creedite Durango, Mexico. With this locale no longer producing the prices of these specimens are going up by leaps and bounds. Minor edge and bask contact. Very displayable and shows damage free faces. Place contacts down and to back and it’s an outstanding display specimen. Acquire this one at a 1990s price 45$
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OKI-160 Albite Twins Rt.# 55 Road cut, near Windsor, Quebec, Canada. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is a specimen collected by Bill Dossert in 1986, sold to Steve and subsequently stashed away. Steve never cleaned or cataloged these specimens, most of which were not of collector grade. I purchased the cash, the good the bad and the ugly and these are the few (in fact great!) thumbnail specimens to come from the lot. These are the finest examples of alpine quartz which Canada has to offer and it remains the only documented alpine occurrence in the country. This fine example measures 2.9 x 2.2 x 1.8 cm with one exceptionally large crystal measuring approx. 2.2 cm long. The cluster is a floater and there is one spot on the large crystal which has what appears to be a contact on one edge. I’ve inspected it twice with 10x and I can’t decide. It is not at all distracting to this exceptional TN. Translucent to transparent. It still needs a bit of TLC (cleaning). A fine specimen. 75$
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OKI-161 Quartz Rt.# 55 Road cut, near Windsor, Quebec, Canada. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is a specimen collected by Bill Dossert in 1986, sold to Steve and subsequently stashed away. Steve never cleaned or cataloged these specimens, most of which were not of collector grade. I purchased the cash, the good the bad and the ugly and these are the few (in fact great!) thumbnail specimens to come from the lot. These are the finest examples of alpine quartz which Canada has to offer and it remains the only documented alpine occurrence in the country. A fantastic tabular double terminated quartz measuring 3.5 x 1.5 x .7 cm. The terminations are unusual for the locale. They are saw edged and quite interesting. There are a couple very tiny crystal contacts and lots of very tiny riders on the surface of the specimen. Most of this is only visible with magnification. A fine and unusual specimen. 100$
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OKI-162 Quartz Rt.# 55 Road cut, near Windsor, Quebec, Canada. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is a specimen collected by Bill Dossert in 1986, sold to Steve and subsequently stashed away. Steve never cleaned or cataloged these specimens, most of which were not of collector grade. I purchased the cash, the good the bad and the ugly and these are the few (in fact great!) thumbnail specimens to come from the lot. These are the finest examples of alpine quartz which Canada has to offer and it remains the only documented alpine occurrence in the country. This specimen is actually able to fit into a perky box if positioned correctly. It displays on edge wonderfully and is easily a competition grade TN specimen. It measures a huge (for a TN) 3.8 x 3 x 2.1 cm. Individual crystals are up to 3.5 cm each and almost all are double terminated. Many are in parallel growth. Extremely flashy specimen which could stand to be hit with the water gun to remove the last small specks of clay. Under magnification a couple rubs are visible on terminations but this specimen looks totally clean to the eye. Is this the best quartz TN specimen ever mined from this famous locale? I think it is. A real killer. 325$
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OKI-163 Quartz on Albite Twins Rt.# 55 Road cut, near Windsor, Quebec, Canada. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is a specimen collected by Bill Dossert in 1986, sold to Steve and subsequently stashed away. Steve never cleaned or cataloged these specimens, most of which were not of collector grade. I purchased the cash, the good the bad and the ugly and these are the few (in fact great!) thumbnail specimens to come from the lot. These are the finest examples of alpine quartz which Canada has to offer and it remains the only documented alpine occurrence in the country. This one has a grouping of several parallel growth crystals sitting atop a dome of albites. The quartz measures 3.3 cm in length and the entire piece is 3.3 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm. The albites are to 1 cm. There is a tiny tip ding and some minor damage to an albite crystal. Tough to see and you’d have to be quite picky to even notice this given the overall aesthetics of this amazing TN specimen. Very showy specimen in all regards. 150$
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OKI-164 Fluororichterite Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada. I just cleaned up all the material I had stashed away from collecting in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the best TN I ever collected from the site in many years of seriously working the locale. We drilled, sawed and brought home literally thousands of pounds of this material. This one is truly special. If I had it cleaned when I wrote the Rock and Gem article it would have been photographed for the publication. It must go because it is not from NYS or figured in a publication. I have several figured specimens from this site and this one is better than any of them! It measures 3.1 x 2.1 x 1.1 cm overall and is composed of two interlocked crystals. One large dominant double terminated crystal and a smaller rider which is attached to a lower edge of the main crystal’s base and skewed an attractive angle. The main crystal has additional forms visible in its termination which I was unaware occurred in these crystals, so it also has an extra “crystallographic” interest. The luster is as high as it gets in these crystals and there is no damage what so ever. Perfect terminations!!! There is minor red mica (phlogopite) along one edge. Minor striations, minor solution pits, major aesthetic. A specimen for the top shelf collector of pieces of this size. The best of the best. 595$
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OKI-165 Grossular and Clinopyroxene York River Skarn Zone, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Collected by Michael Walter, 1998. I just rediscovered this specimen….displayed at the 2004 Syracuse Rock and Mineral Show it was boxed away and neglected. Now that I’ve found it once again I assume someone might have a place for it in their collection. This huge TN specimen just fits in a perky box measuring in at 3.5 x 3.5 x 2.1 cm. The largest crystal is 2.2 cm. The biggest crystal are translucent and gemmy in small areas. The tiny crystals are gem. The luster is great and the color a deeper red than usual. Most garnets form this location are more of an orange color. The orange ones are rather dull looking while these red ones are vibrant and very aesthetic. One small chip on the big garnet but in fine condition overall. Views great from all directions. The garnets are redder than the photos indicate. Outstanding display piece. Location is now a provincial park and will unlikely produce specimens again. 380$
