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March/ Tucson 2011 Update
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OKH-526 Calcite and Stibnite Xikuangshan Antimony Mine, Lengshuijiang County, Loudi Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. We have seen a fair number of the specimens over the past six or seven years. Almost all have been damaged, and/or, heavily oiled. This year I was able to purchase for fine specimens that are in good condition and not heavily oiled to hide their flaws. This first one measures 6.5 by four by 3 cm overall. The largest calcite is slightly over 3 cm. There are several intergrown calcites that are extremely tabular and gemmy. This specimen is a damage free floater that displays beautifully. $225
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OKH-527 Calcite and Stibnite Xikuangshan Antimony Mine, Lengshuijiang County, Loudi Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. We have seen a fair number of the specimens over the past six or seven years. Almost all have been damaged, and/or, heavily oiled. This year I was able to purchase for fine specimens that are in good condition and not heavily oiled to hide their flaws. This piece is another damage free floater with fine terminations have a single large 5 cm tabular calcite. It is gemmy and highly included by stibnites. There is a small .7 cm calcite twin on one of the stibnite blades. Another damage free floater which is superb for this locality in all regards. $375
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OKH-528 Calcite and Stibnite Xikuangshan Antimony Mine, Lengshuijiang County, Loudi Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. We have seen a fair number of the specimens over the past six or seven years. Almost all have been damaged, and/or, heavily oiled. This year I was able to purchase for fine specimens that are in good condition and not heavily oiled to hide their flaws. This piece is another beautiful floater composed of two tabular calcites which show parallel growth. One calcite is 2.2 cm and the other 1 cm. The stibnites are well terminated with a couple showing the classic bent form. This fine example measures 6.7 x 3.5 x 4 cm overall. $250
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OKH-529 Calcite and Stibnite Xikuangshan Antimony Mine, Lengshuijiang County, Loudi Prefecture, Hunan Province, China. We have seen a fair number of the specimens over the past six or seven years. Almost all have been damaged, and/or, heavily oiled. This year I was able to purchase for fine specimens that are in good condition and not heavily oiled to hide their flaws. This final example is what I believe to be the finest specimen in a lot. It is dominated by a single tabular calcite measuring 4.2 cm. This calcite is a wonderfully formed twin. The entire specimen measures 7.5 x 5.5 x 5 cm overall. This also is damage free floater in a superb example for the locale. A really rare thing in numerous regards. $400
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OKH-530 Fluorite on Quartz and Dolomite Shangbao Mine, Leiyang County, Hunan Province, China. This example is composed of three intergrown octahedrons of light green fluorite. They sit high on a matrix of white quartz and cream-colored dolomites. There are gem clear light purple phantoms on selective faces. The octahedrons are heavily overgrown by cubic faces as is typical for the locale. 6 x 4 x 4.7 cm overall. It is mounted on a custom engraved acrylic base. A fine damage free example which views well from every side. $500
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OKH-531 Fluorite and Calcite RESERVED Shangbao Mine, Leiyang County, Hunan Province, China. This example is composed of a single octahedron of light green fluorite. It is a floater that has minor calcite on several surfaces and internally as inclusions. There are gem clear light purple phantoms on selective faces. The octahedron is heavily overgrown by cubic faces as is typical for the locale. Damage free. The piece measures 4.5 x 4.3 x 4 cm overall. It is mounted on a custom engraved acrylic base. A beauty in all regards. $350
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OKH-532 Fluorite on Calcite and Dolomite Shangbao Mine, Leiyang County, Hunan Province, China. This example is composed of four intergrown octahedrons of light green fluorite. They sit high on matrix of white quartz and cream-colored dolomites. There are gem clear light purple phantoms deep within selective faces. The octahedrons are heavily overgrown by cubic faces as is typical for the locale. The fluorites measure over 6 cm across together. This specimen is 8.5 x 7.2 x 4.2 and is damage free. The piece measures 4.5 x 4.3 x 4 cm overall. It is mounted on a custom engraved acrylic base. Superb and all regards. $600
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OKH-533 Silver on Acanthite Huang Tong Xiang Mine, Lu Jiang, Anhui Province, China. This outstanding example measures 5.2 x 4 x 2.8 cm overall and is composed of primary acanthite crystals to 1.5 cm each. On these can be found coils and wires of silver and small shiny secondary acanthite crystals. Damage free floater. Mounted on a custom engraved acrylic base, this represents an outstanding value. I am currently unable to replace the specimens, at wholesale, for this price. $280
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OKH-534 Silver on Acanthite Huang Tong Xiang Mine, Lu Jiang, Anhui Province, China. This outstanding example measures 5 x 3.5 x 2 cm overall and is composed of primary acanthite crystals to 1 cm each. On these can be found coils and wires of silver. Mounted on a custom engraved acrylic base, this represents an outstanding value. Damage free floater. I am currently unable to replace the specimens, at wholesale, for this price. Aesthetic and desirable. $345
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OKH-535 Quartz, Hubeite and Chlorite Daye Mine, Edong Mining District, Daye County, Hubie Province, China. This unusual piece represents a somewhat unique find for this prolific locality. I've only seen two of these, and this was the only one without substantial damage. It is composed of three beautifully formed scepters of clear quartz having a slightly smoky tint. Internally the crystals are somewhat milky. There stems show stepped growth on some faces while on others they are totally flat. The base is coated by brown hubeite. The entire specimen is a floater. Some areas of the back side of the specimen have chlorite overgrowths. 7 x 5 x 3.5 cm overall with scepters to 5 cm each. Minor skeletal growth in parallel growth features on the caps. What appears to be hematite or hubeite appears as red and silver inclusions on the crystal surfaces. Micro Wilber's on two terminations otherwise damage free. Excellent aesthetics, luster, and form. Custom engraved acrylic base. Impressive. $550
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OKH-536 Azurite on Malachite Liufengshan Mine, Anqing-Guichi District, Chizhou Prefecture, Anhui Province, China. Here is the most substantial fine I was able to acquire this year, 2011, at Tucson. This is the best one I have personally seen from the location. Most of the material from the region is massive or has little crystals and not much malachite to speak of unless it is botryoidal or stalactitic. It is the very first locale discussed in Guanghua Liu's book, "Fine Minerals of China". This one is 12 x 9 x 6 cm. Crystals are the highest luster imaginable and up to 1.5 cm, averaging around a cm each. They sit up well off the malachite which is velvety and rub free. No damage. Far superior to any in his book by light years for its aesthetics. In hand very impressive...the photos are only so-so. Undulating mounds of material in a shallow vug like display for these lustrous and translucent azurites. No damage and mounted engraved acrylic base. This fine cabinet specimen certainly ranks among the very best azurites to have its origins in China. $5,000
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OKD-426 Calcite and Chalcedony Nasik, India. I came upon this unusual piece approximately ten years ago and stocked it away for a rainy day. I have yet to see another like this. I've observed my share of calcite scepters, but none of this quality on chalcedony stalactites. Put these interesting forms together in a matrix vug and it becomes a wonderfully unusual specimen for the collector who thinks they have seen everything unique from India. This fine specimen measures 14 x 12 x 6 cm overall and is totally damage free. The scepters are clear to white with selective face coatings of a sugary quartz or secondary calcite overgrowth, their stems are darker than the caps. Comes with a custom engraved acrylic base. I am able to offer this fine piece for only....$950
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OKH-521 Grossular York River Skarn Zone, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Ex. Michael Walter Collection. Collected by Michael Walter, 1999. Now a Provincial Park, this material is becoming uncommon to find in quality specimens and will only become more so in years to come. This is one of two specimens I had in my own collection for many years there are some contacts on this cabinet specimen but it is in good overall condition. 12 x 8.5 x 6 cm overall with crystals to 1.7 cm each. Exceptional for the site. $125
