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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.

 


 

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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