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Tucson Update, Feb. 2009
Babingtonite, Prehnite and Quartz
Near Meigu, Xichang County, Sichuan Prov., China
The mineral babingtonite is a rare silicate which seldom forms nice crystals and is only known in a few noteworthy locations: the Lane Quarry in Massachusetts and recently the Roncari Quarry in Connecticut are well known to east coast collectors. The babingtonites from these classic east coast localities have recently been eclipsed by a new find from China, however. All experts strongly agree that these new babingtonites are, by far, the best ever found. Yes, by far the best the world has ever seen. They are far larger, crisper in their crystal form, higher in luster and have better mineral associations, often being found in combination with finely crystallized quartz and prehnite. In a nut shell, they are the best of the best and will be looked at as modern classics.
The prices of these specimens have been commensurate with other fine specimens that are considered the best of their species and rare in exceptional specimens. Even what I would consider poor quality specimens have been in the thousands of dollars. This year at the Tucson Show I finally made the plunge and purchased a lot of eight specimens which I consider to be the best of all those I saw with the several dealers who had them. They were not cheap but they were much more reasonably priced than the past two years. The best two of these were the finest quality specimens I have seen of this material. Let me explain…
While some dealers look at black minerals with the same basic guideline in mind (bigger is better), I do not. Yes, large crystal size is very important but, in my mind, black minerals must have exceptional luster to be considered of fine quality (this probably comes from 40 years of collecting black uvite crystals here in New York State!). These specimens I’ve been seeing which have good, but not exceptional luster and run thousands to tens of thousands of dollars are NOT the best examples of the species. The specimen to follow have the top luster I am speaking of and they don’t get it from being oiled! Further, the crystals are very sharply formed, sometimes complex in their morphology and often double terminated. They sit up high off their matrices and the minerals which compose those matrices are also exceptional for their form and luster. In other words, the entire specimen exhibits that “flash” we all desire in displayable mineral specimens no matter what their color or species. I would not have invested so much money in adding more black minerals to my specimen inventory in these tough economic times unless I felt they were as good as I am implying.
These specimens have trickled out of China over the past three years with few of this high a quality being made available. It is my hope that any collector looking for quality specimens will recognize the value presented here. Waiting another year or two is unlikely to affect the pricing of this material but it could certainly limit its availability. Please note…all of these specimens have been photographed under low lighting so the luster on the babingtonite crystals is even higher than the images indicate!
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OKI-151 Babingtonite, Prehnite and Quartz Near Meigu, Xichang County, Sichuan Prov., China. This fine example is the second-best piece I was able to find Tucson show. The display face is liberally coated with fine, large, lustrous babingtonites to over 2 cm on edge. Almost all the crystals are doubly terminated and none show any form of damage. They are not densely intergrown, but spread out nicely with prehnite and clear quartz filling the voids between them. The specimen measures 10 x 8 cm and is a plate slightly over 3 cm thick. This piece sits nicely on edge and views beautifully from all sides. The only contact is the base on which it sits. The quartz crystals are excellent and the prehnite balls are up to 2 cm each. The backside of the specimen is coated by small prehnites and a few quartz crystals. This specimen is of the highest quality found for this material. $1995
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OKI-152 Babingtonite, Prehnite and Quartz Near Meigu, Xichang County, Sichuan Prov., China. This miniature is a plate measuring 4.1 x 4 cm. It is 2 cm thick and its backside is coated by prehnites of a lower luster. The display face is beautiful sporting two large babingtonite crystals the largest of which is 2.4 cm. The second-largest measures just shy of 2 cm. There are two edge contacts on the plate and no damage to the babingtonites, quartz or prehnite. A very nice specimen for the collector who desires large crystals on small matrices. $395
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OKI-153 Babingtonite, Prehnite and Quartz Near Meigu, Xichang County, Sichuan Prov., China. This piece is an absolute killer miniature. It measures 5 x 4.3 x 3.7 cm and is dominated by a single huge babingtonite crystal measuring 2.7 cm in length, 3 cm in width, in 1.2 cm in thickness. It is of is slightly lesser luster than the others specimens described in section, but the crystal was so impressive and well displayed that I could not turn it down. This is another fine piece for someone who likes big crystals on a small matrix. The prehnite is slightly yellow in color and the quartz are so clear that they are barely visible. An impressive specimen for this rare species. $495
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OKI-157 Babingtonite, Prehnite and Quartz Near Meigu, Xichang County, Sichuan Prov., China. Here is another find miniature which is dominated by a single large babingtonite crystal measuring 2.5 x 1.5 x 1 cm. There are several other babingtonites to over a centimeter each splaying away from its base. This is on prehnite and quartz which shows matrix contacts on two sides. An exceptional miniature of high luster in fantastic form. $495
Wulfentite, Mimetite and Calcite
Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein,
Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Over the late 2007 and 2008 collecting seasons some of these fine specimens were trickling out of Mexico and showing up in the inventories of some of the “big” dealers…at some amazingly big prices. At the 2009 Tucson Show two wholesalers had supplies of the same material available for sale. One had quite a bit of the material but almost all was damaged. The second dealer had far less and I found none which were damage free. As you will see from the specific descriptions and images there are several crystal forms among the wulfenites. They have nice transparency and are at the very least translucent. The mimetites are consistently a deep green color, botryoidal and silky in their surface texture. The calcite is a minor species and usually white in color adding a nice contrast to the color mix in some specimens. The crystals of wulfenite are seldom over a cm each but the overall size of the specimens available varied greatly. They are an attractive butterscotch color, slightly striated and of outstanding luster for the species. If I had wanted to spend thousands an get specimens a foot across I could have. The problem is that the crystals were still the same size so I saw no point in anyone doing this unless they intended to cut up the specimens into many smaller pieces.
These are priced to move and the best of the five flats I purchased. Nothing above 100$ Enjoy.
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OKI-200 Wulfentite and Mimetite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. This is a dome shaped specimen measuring 4.8 x 4 x 2.4 cm. It has lots of small wulfenites to .8 cm each (most .4 to .6 cm). They are slightly bipyramidal in form with basal pinicoids truncating the bipyramids. Nice crystal translucence and crystals have darker color band around their midsections. Minor mimetite balls. I see one small broken crystal with magnification within body of the piece and minor damage on back of specimen. Sawn flat base. 35$
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OKI-201 Wulfentite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Lotts of translucent sharply bipyramidal crystals to .7 cm on this 6.1 x 4 x 2.1 cm specimen. Some of the wulfenites are quite stocky (to .4 cm). Slightly sawn flat base. Views nicely from all sides with no damage. 45$
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OKI-202 Wulfentite and Mimetite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Here is a larger specimen with fine bipyramidal wulfenites to 1.3 cm each. The entire piece measures 7.7 x 6 x 3.2 cm. There is a good quantity of both species and they are spread out nicely on this elongated piece. It views well from all sides with only a couple small chipped crystals which show themselves under magnification. Sawn base. Great specimen which would surely be a treat for any collector who enjoys Mexican minerals or wulfenites. 95$
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OKI-203 Wulfentite and Calcite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. A killer specimen with dozens of single and double terminated wulfenites to 1.2 cm each. They are as crisply formed as a crystal can be. The piece is 8 x 6.6 x 4 cm overall. Very slightly sawn on base and nice looking from any side. No damage that I can detect and a good deal of silver colored calcite too. 90$
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OKI-204 Wulfentite and Calcite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. This specimen is different in that the crystals are blocky and gemmy (with moderate inclusions). The crystals are lustrus and up to .7 cm each. They have a nice contrast against the brown gossan and the small metallic looking calcites add additional appeal. There is minor sawing to one edge and back. 5.4 x 4 1 1.5 cm. No damage. 50$
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OKI-205 Wulfentite, Mimetite and Calcite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. This dome shaped specimen is really attractive on all its sides. All minerals are present in nice colors and forms. The specimen is a floater with a vug on one side. The wulfenites are blocky and are up to .5 cm each. The only damage is a tiny contact mark on its base. 5.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Great piece. 65$
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OKI-206 Wulfentite and Calcite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. This 4.4 x 3.6 x 3 cm piece is a dome coated by small double terminated wulfenites to .5 cm and large green mimetite balls. No damage. Exceptional miniature sized specimen. 45$
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OKI-207 Wulfentite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Blocky, slightly tapered rectangular crystals to .8 cm on one side of a sawn specimen plate measuring 7.2 x 3.5 cm. Great coverage of crystals on a fine damage free specimen. 40$
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OKI-208 Wulfentite and Mimetite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. Excellent coverage by large (to 1 cm) wulfenites and tiny green mimetite balls. The specimen measures 5.7 x 4.3 x 1.7 cm and is partially sawn flat on the back. I see three crystals damaged when under magnification. This damage will not appear obvious and I still consider this a fine specimen even given my hatred of damage. 70$
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OKI-210 Wulfentite and Calcite Level 6, San Juan Poniente Vein, Mina La Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. A nice coverage of double terminated crystals to .7 cm each on one side of this plate. It measures 6 x 4.2 cm and is 1.5 cm thick. No damage. Nice example. 40$
