Mixed Minerals
A collection of mixed
minerals, with an emphasis on the USA.
On
another note, I took a buying trip to Peru at the end of March, specimens from
that trip will be posted soon.
AP01
Fluorite
on Quartz
Mahodari
Quarry, Near Nasik, Maharashtra State, India
9.4x
5.6x 5.0 cm
$500
A
nice Indian fluorite specimen, with a single yellow hemisphere on a
quartz matrix. The hemisphere is accentuated by a narrow ring of
dark, sub-millimetric goethite (or julgoldite?) balls.
The
fluorite has not been oiled.
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AP02
Stilbite
on Amethyst
Near
Nasik, Maharashtra State, India
9.7x
5.7x 4.3 cm
$265
This
specimen consists of two very common minerals, in a rather uncommon (and beautiful) association.
At
first glance this looks like any of the abundant geodes from Brazil--
but the stilbite would not be right.
I
have seen Indian amethyst geodes containing elongated, honey-colored
calcite crystals, and others (usually damaged) with fluorite balls.
This is the first time I can recall seeing this combination--
I checked Mindat after purchasing it, and there are only a few photographs of this
association, though this one is much more aesthetic.
That's
not to say there aren't any more-- given the tonnage of Indian specimens
produced annually I'm sure there have been more, but I haven't seen them,
and this one caught my attention.
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AP03
Calcite
on Quartz
Boldut
Mine, Cavnic, Marmures Co., Romania
14.4x
10.2x 5.8 cm
$650
A
cabinet specimen hosting multiple ball-shaped aggregates of calcite on a
plate of quartz crystals.
When
I started collecting in the mid-1990's, Romanian minerals were as common
as the similar Bulgarian or Peruvian specimens are today.
With
Romania's entrance the EU in 2007 however, the main specimen producing
mines (and many others) were forced to close as they were not compatible
with EU regulations. Even for some years before that, output had
been decreased, These days the specimens are still seen for
sale, just not as often as before, as the mines are sealed shut.
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AP04
Fluorite on Celestite
Tule
Mine, Melchor Múzquiz, Mun. de Melchor Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico
13.2x
6.5x 3.0 cm
$450
A
single, light purple fluorite cube on a jagged blade of white celestite.
Specimens
like this were found in the 70's, and this one likely dates to that time
period.
An
aesthetic combination that is rarely seen today. By the standards
of this type of material, the arrangement is particularly good.
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AP05
Celestite
Silica
Quarry, Rockwood, Michigan, United States.
17.5x
10.2x 4.5 cm
$680
A
monster blade of celestite from Michigan. This piece was collected
in 1977.
It
does not have the gemminess of other pieces from the region, but it is certainly
one of the largest single crystals of the species that I have seen for
sale, and certainly the largest I have seen from Michigan. There are of
course larger crystals in existence, though those tend to be cave
formations... not the sort of things that get offered for sale.
There is a
significant chip on the back of the specimen near the top, but as you
can see it displays fine from the front.
Rockwood
is a suburb on the south side of Detroit.
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AP06
Copper
Empire
Mine, Copper Harbor, Keeweenaw Co., Michigan, USA
9.6x
2.4x 1.3 cm
$450
An
aesthetic and well crystallized copper from one of the less commonly
encountered Michigan copper localities, the Empire mine.
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AP07
Copper
Central
Mine, Lake Superior Copper District, Keeweenaw Co., Michigan, USA
7.9x
4.5x 2.1 cm
$495
A
well crystallized copper specimen from Michigan's copper district.
The
Central Mine operated from 1844 to 1898, and produced over 50 million
lbs of refined copper. This specimen was almost certainly
collected on the dumps post mining, though retains good crystal form.
It
comes with an old Ross Lillie label.
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AP08
Pyrite
Huanzala Mine,
Huallanca District, Dos de Mayo Province, Peru
13.0x
11.5x 3.6 cm
$395
A
large specimen of pyrite dodecahedrons from the Huanzala mine. I
purchased this specimen during my March 2012 trip to Peru. I am
still waiting for the other (few hundred) specimens to get here from
Peru, but this one came in my suitcase so it's going up early.
This specimen has the ultra-high,
almost mirror like luster that this mine’s pyrites are known for.
There are a couple spots of damage around the edges (two notable
ones at the top and bottom edges of the specimen)
Huanzala
has undoubtedly produced more pyrite than any other specimen locality—most
of the "fool's gold" clusters that you see for sale in various
rock and gift shops originated from this mine.
I heard from a couple friends that
about 2-3 years ago there was a major crackdown on specimen collecting
at the mine. Allegedly, the
local police were involved on an official/unofficial basis and two
people wound up dead, and over a dozen in jail.
As a result the number of people selling pyrites locally
decreased. Actually, all of
the Huanzala material I bought on this trip came from lots that had been
originally purchased a couple years ago.
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AP09
Galena
Kruchev
Dol Mine, Madan District, Bulgaria
17.2x
13.8x 5.5 cm
$385
A
large plate of galena crystals, from current mining in Bulgaria.
The specimen can be displayed from either side (both sides are
pictured).
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AP10
Linarite on Galena with Fluorite
Blanchard
Mine, Bingham, Socorro Co., New Mexico, United States
19.0x
7.8x 8.6 cm
$450
A
large cabinet specimen, hosting a single 3.1 cm galena crystal whose
surfaces have altered in places to blue linarite, and a powdery coating of what is
most likely cerussite. There are some purplish-blue fluorites also
scattered about the matrix.
There
is some damage to a some of the surrounding fluorites, and a saw mark
on the back, but the galena crystal is intact. This piece would be
a good candidate for a trim, but I am leaving it as is.
This
is an older piece, is has been in a box for at least the last two
decades.
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AP11
Fluorite on Barite
Caldwell
Stone Company Quarry, Danville, Kentucky, United States
7.7x
6.6x 3.4 cm
$200
When
I saw these pieces, I thought there had been a labeling error- they look
very similar to pieces from Asturias, Spain. That was not the
case-- further inquiries and a bit of research proved that these actually are from Kentucky.
Apart
from millerites , I haven't seen many specimens from this state, though
I am told by friends that there quite a few field collecting sites
there. I suppose that would make sense, given that the same
geological forces responsible for producing the Elmwood deposits and
Illinois flourspar district
also acted in this area (for those outside the US, Kentucky is sandwiched
between better known mineral districts in southern Illinois and western Tennessee)
This
specimen is at least a couple decades old. I did an internet
search, and the quarry where they were found is still in operation-- it
supplies crushed stone and material for making concrete.
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AP12
Fluorite on Barite
Caldwell
Stone Company Quarry, Danville, Kentucky, United States
8.7x
6.8x 4.9 cm
$250
When
I saw these pieces, I thought there had been a labeling error- they look
very similar to pieces from Asturias, Spain. That was not the
case-- further inquiries and a bit of research proved that these actually are from Kentucky.
Apart
from millerites , I haven't seen many specimens from this state, though
I am told by friends that there quite a few field collecting sites
there. I suppose that would make sense, given that the same
geological forces responsible for producing the Elmwood deposits and
Illinois flourspar district
also acted in this area (for those outside the US, Kentucky is sandwiched
between better known mineral districts in southern Illinois and western Tennessee)
This
specimen is at least a couple decades old. I did an internet
search, and the quarry where they were found is still in operation-- it
supplies crushed stone and material for making concrete.
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AP13
Fluorite on Barite
Caldwell
Stone Company Quarry, Danville, Kentucky, United States
10.8x
5.7x 4.2 cm
$185
When
I saw these pieces, I thought there had been a labeling error- they look
very similar to pieces from Asturias, Spain. That was not the
case-- further inquiries and a bit of research proved that these actually are from Kentucky.
Apart
from millerites , I haven't seen many specimens from this state, though
I am told by friends that there quite a few field collecting sites
there. I suppose that would make sense, given that the same
geological forces responsible for producing the Elmwood deposits and
Illinois flourspar district
also acted in this area (for those outside the US, Kentucky is sandwiched
between better known mineral districts in southern Illinois and western Tennessee)
This
specimen is at least a couple decades old. I did an internet
search, and the quarry where they were found is still in operation-- it
supplies crushed stone and material for making concrete.
There
are a couple spots of damage on this one.
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AP14
Calcite
Danville, Kentucky, United States
6.5x
3.5x 3.0 cm
$185
A
twinned calcite crystal from Kentucky, perched on a small scrap of
matrix. There is absolutely no damage to this piece, both
terminations are intact.
Apart
from millerites , I haven't seen many specimens from this state, though
I am told by friends that there quite a few field collecting sites
there. I suppose that would make sense, given that the same
geological forces responsible for producing the Elmwood deposits and
Illinois flourspar district
also acted in this area (for those outside the US, Kentucky is sandwiched
between better known mineral districts in southern Illinois and western Tennessee)
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AP15
Pyromorphite
S'Ortu
Becciu Mine, Donori, Cagliari Province, Sardinia, Italy
10.5x
6.3x 4.7 cm
$200
An
old pyromorphite specimen from Sardenia, this piece had been in a box
for over 20 years, and was surely found sometime before then.
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AP16
Fluorite
Pugh
Quarry, Custar, Ohio, United States
11.0x
8.2x 7.8 cm
$200
An
interesting specimen of fluorite cubes containing brown phantoms in a
pocket of sedementary rock. This specimen was found over 20 years
ago.
As
strange as this may seem, I liked the saw marks on this piece. In
the Midwestern USA, the bulk of minerals (various calcites, fluorites,
celestites and sulfurs) come from quarries. While I would find
such obvious marks to be a problem on other specimens, they combine with
the size and formation of the specimen to give a good idea of what the
specimen must have been like in situ. I found that quality
appealing.
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AP17
Autunite
Spokane
Co., Washington, United States
4.4x
3.1x 1.4 cm
$185
A
very bright yellow specimen of radioactive autunite from Washington
State.
I
ship radioactive minerals shielded with lead sheeting.
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AP18
Rhodochrosite
Cannon
Mine, Stambaugh,
Iron Co., Michigan, USA
7.0x
5.9x 3.6 cm
$450
So
by the standards of worldwide rhodochrosite, this piece leaves something
to be desired. What makes this piece stand out however, is that it comes
from Michigan, and it is particularly rich for the state.
Michigan
is best known by mineral collectors for its coppers, however the state
was an important iron producer as well. In 1844 significant iron
ore formations were discovered, and by 1890, Michigan was
responsible for 80% of US iron ore production. This particular
orebody was worked later on, from 1910 to 1963.
It
is interesting to note the matrix is actually rich iron ore-- it is colored
red by iron oxides, and has diffuse gray bands of other minerals
(presumably hematite) running through it.
Rhodochrosite is not an iron
mineral, but this site produced a number of manganese minerals in
addition to the iron ore- shigaite, manganite, and hausmanite to name a
few.
This
specimen is undoubtedly the result of collecting post-mining, however it
remains a rare (and pretty good) example from a classic and historically
important US mining district.
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AP19
Chamosite ps. Almandine Garnet
Michigamme
Mine, Marquette Iron Range, Iron Co., Michigan, United States
5.0x
2.7x 2.3 cm
$95
A
very sharp pseudomorph of chamosite after almandine garnet, positioned
very aesthetically on matrix. There is no damage.
There
pseudomorphs turn up with reasonable frequency at small venues in
Michigan, though I have hardly seem them available at larger shows. Classic US material-- perhaps not the flashiest, but
definitely interesting.
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AP20
Berzeilainite
Skrikerum
Mine, Valdemarsvik, Östergötland, Sweden
6.3x
4.0x 2.0 cm
$220
An
old (and very rich) specimen of this rare copper selenide with calcite, from
Sweden.
Berzelianite
is known from a number of localities worldwide, however the best
specimens were found long ago at a couple localities in the Czech
Republic, and at the Skrikerum Mine, in Sweden.
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Inner
Mongolia under $100 (New
4/17/2012)
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