Mounted Specimens II
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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. An exceptional, aesthetic and
rare specimen at this level of quality. 1,100$
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OKE-202 Silver Wire on Acanthite Huang Tong Xiang Mine, Town of Lu Jiang,
Anhui Prov., China. This fine specimen measures 7.9 x 7.1 x 4 cm. There is
some matrix rock present in this large specimen but the majority of the piece is
dark, well formed acanthite crystals to a massive 2.2 cm each. Many are
hoppered in their form and most show nice faces. Small quartz crystals
scattered within the matrix. There are not a lot of silver wires but they are
present mostly on what I would describe as the top of the specimen. A top piece
from this new silver occurrence. Very nice piece. 700$
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OKI-083 Acanthite and Silver Huang Tong Xiang Mine, Town of Lu Jiang,
Anhui Prov., China. I’ve owned probably 800 to 1,000 of these fine specimen and
this beauty ranks in the top two or three. It measures 7 x 6 x 3.8 cm and is
somewhat triangular in shape. The acanthite crystals are better than most from
this locale being well formed and up to 1.5 cm each. There are many silvers in
the form of beautiful, metallic, lustrous curls of wire to around .7 cm each.
They are well anchored to the acanthite but stand up nice and high for
inspection. This may seem like a lot of money for a specimen but check out the
prices on these with other dealers…comparable specimens seem to be in the 3 to
5K range. No damage or problems with this one. Just a great price compared to
everyone else. 880$
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OKF-139 Wulfenite Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico. Ex. Jim Turek
Collection. This large 7 x 7 x 5 cm Crystal grouping is composed of several
layers of well formed, high luster wulfenite crystals. They are somewhat
barrel shaped, which is a typical for the location, and up to 1 cm in length.
Under magnification I can only find one small crystal missing on the front
side. One edge has some matrix contact, otherwise it is a floater. Backside of
grouping is more highly stained and has several dings or missing crystals. The
display face in this piece is wonderful and it sits well for display on several
sides (edges). A very desirable modern-day classic. $400
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OKF-131 Vanadinite on Wulfenite Ahumada Mine, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua,
Mexico. Ex. W.P. Hinley Collection, Circ. 1930s. This specimen is a fine
miniature composed of blocky wulfenite crystals to 1.4 cm on edge. The entire
specimen measures 5.4 x 5 x 3.3 cm. The front sideshows better luster and less
coating from the brown vanadinite. This front side is perfect in all regards.
The backside is more heavily coated and has a few crystals are chipped. The
stack of crystals is very aesthetically composed having several hollow areas
between crystals. These blocky butterscotch colored vanadinite crystals show
two different colors forming distinct layers in every crystal. The color ranges
from butterscotch in one layer to a reddish-brown any underlying layer. This is
a highly desirable and aesthetic display piece. $500
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OKB-577 Stilbite, Stevensite Pseudo after Pectolite
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection,
acquired from Dr. David Potter. What a wonderful piece. An
exceptional 12 cm specimen with not one, but two pseudos to 4 cm each. The
best one of these I have ever seen had only a single ball, was smaller and as
expensive as this one. This is a rare and exceptionally clean piece.
850$
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OKF-557 Calcite on Quartz Yangangxian Mine, Bai Shi Du, Chen Xhou, Yizhang
County, Hunan Prov., China. This killer is by far the best specimen of this
material I have seen and I suspect it might even be the best in existence. I
picked it up a couple years back and it has been squirreled away until now.
This material is rare at the prolific mineral producer, the Yangangxian mine.
This one is even better (by far) than the one photographed for the ExtraLapis,
Calcite monograph. 10.5 x 9.5 x 9 cm and is a complete ball of tabular light
pink calcites over a pair of diverging quartz crystals. Basically only the
bases of the quartz crystals are visible and one from a single side which one
image shows. The symmetry is wonderful and the
crystals of calcite are all damage free! The piece looks to be fragile but it
is no problem to handle without damaging the calcites. The specimen sits well
and views fine from all sides. This is one of those specimens which could be
posted for an outrageous sum of money. I believe a down to Earth price to be…
1,800$
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OKI-733 Vanadinite Upper Moulouya District,
Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Milbaden, Kkenifra Prov., Morocco, Africa. This is the
nicest piece I found at Tucson this year. Quite uncommon to find these top
grade crystals on the darker matrix. Together this makes this what I consider a
specimen of the highest aesthetics. Some might say the lighter colored barite
matrix is more aesthetic but I will let the specimen pics speak for themselves.
The crystals on this fine piece are up to 1.2 cm in diameter. Exceptionally
high luster. They are the brightest red you can find for this species from
anywhere and they are translucent to gemmy. The highest quality I have ever
seen. The piece is 6.4 x 4 x 2.7 cm. Zero damage. Largest crystals are
perfectly positioned high on the piece and just to the right of center. They
really draw your eye to them. Well worth the investment if you look for top
quality examples in your collection. 850$
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OKI-735 Vanadinite Upper Moulouya District,
Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Milbaden, Kkenifra Prov., Morocco, Africa. This large
plate of crystals is heavily mineralized by well formed crystals to 1.1 cm, many
of which are a cm or better. The plate measures 9 x 9 cm and is varies from 2
to 3 cm thick. This piece is spotless! No damage which on a specimen this
large is nothing short of a miracle. I thought I was going to go blind trying
to find one of these big specimen without damage. The color is red with a
slight brownish cast. Very attractive and what a thrill to see hundreds and
hundreds of crystals and no damage what-so-ever. Great piece. 650$
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OKI-006 Strontianite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ex. Dr.
Steve Chamberlain Collection. Prev. Bill Condon Collection. This is one of the
nicest Francon quarry specimen I have ever seen!!! Yes, the weloganites,
dawsonites and some others are the rare specimens which gives this quarry its
fame but this specimen is definitely in a league of its own. The specimen is
completely free of any damage and stands on end. This end may have been once
attached to matrix but the specimen appears to me to be a floater with a regrown
attachment (either that or its just unusually smooth). It is a yellowish cream
color, mildly translucent and has the highest luster for a strontianite specimen that I’ve seen form
anywhere! If someone would have told me this was a strontianite, no matter where
it was from, I would have questioned it. “No way, it’s not possible”.
It's that impressive and far better in hand. This is
a museum quality piece which I believe is better than the best specimen
photographed for the Francon issue of The Mineralogical Record, in the Redpath
Museum, page 45. The specimen could not display better in that it is very
stable as viewed in the images. All sides look attractive so you may find
yourself turning it in your display case every now and again to appreciate all
of its beauty. 5.3 x 4 x 2.5 cm. This is a specimen that is not accessible to
all collectors but it is certainly one that can be appreciated by all. I
wouldn’t trade this specimen for my very best weloganite and dresserite
together! This is an important and highly desirable specimen from a closed
location. Killer is an understatement. 1,950$
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OKF-036 Smithsonite Tsumeb, Namibia, Africa. Ex. Jim
Turek Collection. This is almost a floater specimen (minor contact on one
corner and a small section of back). 5.5 x 5.2 x 2.1 cm with crystals to .7 cm
each. Many penetration twins on this branching cluster. Nice translucence to
transparency to the crystals. A top quality specimen. 340$
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OKF-379 Cerussite Tsumeb, SW Africa. Ex Anthony P.
Dunn collection. Most of this beautifully formed sixling twin is present on a
small piece of matrix. The specimen stands up beautifully for display and
measures 5.7 x 5 x 3.4 cm over. The crystal exhibits a medium to high luster
has zero damage. The cerussite is translucent to gemmy and wonderfully form.
An excellent specimen which is better in person. $650
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OKF-629 Azurite and Malachite Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region,
Namibia, Africa. Ex. Anthony Dunn Collection. A top miniature….Large azurite
crystal measuring just shy of 3 cm with overgrowths of malachite. This thick
crystal is the deepest of blue and high on luster. A superior specimen which we
often find for crazy prices. This one is totally damage free, complexly
terminated and sits up for display. Views well from all sides and measures 3.5
x 2.5 x 2 cm. The specimen is better in person. 400$
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OKD-325 Azurite Tsumeb, S.W. Africa . Ex. Nancy Collins Collection. Deep
blue high luster grouping of azurite crystals in an aesthetic display. One
large crystal is missing in this fine group. Still a very displayable piece
with lots of character. Main crystal is 4 cm while the entire piece measures 5
x 3 x 1.7 cm. 950$
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OKF-201 Prehnite with Tourmaline Inclusions Bendoukou, Sandare District,
Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. This gorgeous primate is exceptionally unusual for
the location. He shows two generations of growth with the first being composed
of prehnite balls to 3.5 cm each which are coated by prehnite in parallel
growth, platy crystals. Both generations are exceptionally transparent showing
the needlelike inclusions of black tourmaline. This specimen is damage free and
measures 6.7 x 5.2 x 4.5 cm it sits beautifully for display. It is mineralized
and damage free at all sides. There is minor yellow staining on the farthest
back regions of the cluster. This is an exceptional display piece with
outstanding aesthetics and a very reasonable price. $180
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OKD-544 Prehnite on Epidote Bendokou, Sandare
District, Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. Here is a beautiful example of what
some of the finest prehnite in the world should look like. This fine specimen
is composed of balls of green prehnite to 3 cm in diameter partially encasing
euhedral crystals of deep green epidote which reach over 3 cm in length. Some
of the epidote crystals have matrix contacts at the base of the specimen and one
prehnite on back is missing a small piece. Views well from all sides except
back. A sculptural 5.5 x 5.5 x 4 cm. 375$
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OKD-335 Prehnite on Epidote Bendoukou, Sandare
District, Kayes Region, Mali, Africa. One of many beautiful specimens recovered
by Rock Currier and the purchased by myself at the 2006 Tucson show. Fine
luster and sculptural form makes these some of the best prehnites ever. Likely
to become the material that all future prehnites will be compared to. Here is
an exceptional small cabinet specimen with large double terminated epidotes and
two prehnite balls. 5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm overall. Displays well from all sides and
is free of damage. 200$
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OKF-385 Vanadinite Touissit Mine near Oujda,
Morocco. Here is a very cool piece which came out in the early 1980s. The
color is very unusual. The crystals are a light green color with terminations
of a whitish green color. The crystals are up to .8 cm in length and diameter.
The specimen is mineralized on almost all sides with the exclusion of the small
area of base and overall it measures 6.1 x 3.9 x 3.6 cm. It is damage free. A
very displayable and interesting piece. $300
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OKD-381 Prehnite on Copper in Calcite Quincy Mine,
Michigan. Ex. Nancy Collins Collection. Here is a smaller cluster (5
cm) with very nice copper phantoms. One calcite tip is cleaved but difficult to
notice in person or photos. Crystals are well formed, double terminated and
lightly striated. It takes a nice, yet realistic, photograph. The piece is
one of the finest miniatures I have ever offered. 2,800$
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OKF-024 Apophyllite “Flowers” on Stilbite India.
This is a wonderful specimen from the now famous "Well Discovery" which is
composed of four flowers (two intergrown) which sit up high of a plate of
stilbite. The large piece measures 20 x 16 cm. The groupings of apophyllites
measure to 5 cm each. They are fine green crystals which grade to clear at
their terminations. This is a spectacular, showy specimen which has no damage,
even when inspected under magnification. A top shelf piece which is very
aesthetic and now becoming difficult to get in large specimens. The price
implies that there is something wrong with the piece. This would be a
false assumption. It is a spectacular specimen offered at a more than fair
price. 1,100$
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OKI-419 Babingtonite and Calcite Lane Quarry,
Northfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Collected by Gerry Marchand, 2007. An
east coast classic and an exceptional one at that. It is a wonderful example
with crystals of the highest luster to an amazing 1.7 cm each. The main display
face is coated by babs and one small cluster of prehnite which is lightly
oxidized, so it is tan in color. On the back the specimen is thickly coated by
calcite and has numerous embedded babingtonite crystals. The piece is a cabinet
specimen which sits nicely a couple of different ways for display. The frontal
view is amazing. It measures in at 8 x 6.5 x 5.4 cm. The calcites are cleaved
in a couple cases but the babingtonite crystals are in fine condition with no
damage. I know the babingtonites from China have received all the press lately,
but these are the Holy Grail for east coast collectors and, I guess, now the
second best babingtonites in the world. This is the best piece I’ve acquired
over the years and is certainly of uncommon quality. 1,700$
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OKI-727 Azurite and Malachite Liufengshan Mine,
Guichi District, Chizhou, Auhui Prov., China. Literally tons of azurite and
malachite have been shipped from China to collectors here in the states. The
azurite “balls” are certainly spectacular but the rest is normally lacking in
most regards. This specimen is an exception! Supper high luster and nice
crystal form make it a real Bisbee look a like. The azurite crystals sit
together in a cluster within the malachite in an aesthetic display. They are to
over a cm each, translucent and of fine luster. Measuring in at 7.4 x 6 x 4 cm,
this small cabinet piece is a real looker. Minor mineralization on back of
specimen, as well. A couple edge crystals looked to have had contacts but
appear to be etched or regrown so I would have to describe this specimen as
damage free. Totally outstanding for a Chinese azurite. 950$
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OKE-142 Pyromorphite Yangshu, Guangxi Prov., China. This grass green
pyro is in the form of a dome measuring 7 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm and composed of
crystals to approx. .7 cm each. The top of the cluster has a couple of chipped
crystals which are not distracting. A good piece of what now is becoming tough
to get material. 350$
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OKD-361 Azurite Morenci, Arizona. Ex. Nancy Collins
Collection. A nice big block with a couple of dozen balls of deep blue azurite
crystals to .8 cm each. Most are very clean while a few have some coatings.
There is minor green malachite coatings for contrast in the form of druze on the
sides of the block and some on the display face. Top left of specimen has a
vug which is also lined with crystals. The piece could be displayed in several
ways, none requiring support. 12 x 9 x 9 cm with the display face measuring
about 10 x 7 cm. No damage. Very attractive piece. 500$
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OKD-040 Fluorite, Quartz, Galena and Unknown
2nd Sovietskiy Mine, Dal’negorsk, Russia. 11 x 8 cm plate of
crystals with water clear fluorites to 1 cm on edge. A single spinel law
twinned galena crystal and small tufts of a tan colored unknown. Damage
free specimen. 175$
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OKC-591 Reticulate Cerussite from Mibladen Mine, Morocco. Largest and finest
piece in the lot showing any reticulated development. Nice six pointed star
pattern when viewed down the length of the crystal (visible in third photo).
Not much in the way of extensive branching form, however. Nice colors both
white and yellow. Very desirable specimen. 450$
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OKC-592 Cerussite from Mibladen Mine, Morocco. One of the largest and and I
think the finest piece in the lot. It shows very minor reticulated
development. Great color saturation and clarity. Finest of aesthetics and
form. Top shelf specimen in all respects. 450$
