Mixed Minerals from Around the World for Sale- Yugawaralite, Sphalerite, Lollingite, Illinois Fluorite, Anilite, Cronstedtite and more!

A page of mixed specimens and Inner Mongolian minerals. I had two separate updates, each half completed, so I figured combining them would work...

DBR1 Fluorite with Barite, Sphalerite

Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock District, Illinois, United States

11.7x 10.0x 5.4 cm

$685

A cabinet fluorite from the Flourspar district of southern Illinois. This piece features a single etched and very sharply zoned crystal on a matrix of Sphalerite and white barite. There is no damage to the fluorite crystal, which measures 6.5 cm.

The mines in the area closed in the mid-1990's, and today remain closed as they are unable to compete with the price industrial fluorite from China (which coincidentally have also produced a number of quality mineral specimens).

DBR2 Fluorite

Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock District, Illinois, United States

14.0x 10.3x 7.2 cm

$550

A cabinet specimen of purple fluorite with light phantoms visible. The crystallization on this piece is very different from the usual cluster of simple, large cubes, rather there seem to be multiple separate growths of large and small cubes making for a large slightly haphazard but very cool, tetris-y looking piece.

There is a bit of minor edge wear visible under magnification.

DBR3 Galena

Shullsburg, Upper Mississippi Valley District, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, United States

14.7x 6.2x 5.4 cm

$385

Ex. Wheaton College

A cabinet galena crystal from a less well known US locality, the mines in the area closed in the 1970's. The crystal measures 3.2 cm on edge, and only the bottom facing corner has a small cleave.

The majority of contemporary galena specimen from the US originate in the Viburnum trend district, approximately 400 miles south, and older specimens are sometimes seen from Picher, Oklahoma and Kansas.

This specimen was purchased from the Wheaton College.

DBR4 Fluorite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Nasik Area, Maharashtra Prov., India

10.8x 7.3x 3.4 cm

$600

A pair of orange fluorite hemispheres on a quartz matrix.

These odd fluorites are the result of very rapid cooling, and are known mainly from two Indian locations: the Mahodari Quarry in Nasik (Maharashtra Prov.) and a second location a few hundred km to the northeast in Madhya Pradesh. Specimens from the second locality tend to be almost stalactitic in appearance, and are often found on dark amethyst. Unfortunately, they are also often scratched up, as if someone were trying to remove an unsightly coating

I strongly suspect this piece has been coated with some sort of sealant-- though given that some of these tend to discolor due to a high opal content and associated hydration issues, I would say it was a good idea.

DBR5 Fluorite on Calcite on Quartz

Mahodari Quarry, Nasik Area, Maharashtra Prov., India

20.2x 17.0x 7.3 cm

$850

A yellow fluorite hemisphere on a quartz matrix, The piece is entirely damage free.

The small black dot on the lowe right side of the speimen is a julgoldite crystal.

DBR34 Sphalerite on Lollingite with Arsenopyrite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.1x 4.6x 3.1 cm

$1600

An excellent, damage free combination specimen of the highly desirable and very rare yellow sphalerite on a lollingite book. The sphalerite is lustrous and gemmy, the same quality as the original pieces that were found-- later pieces tend to be less transparent.

This is also the only sphalerite/ lollingite combo that I have seen, it is a very beauiful and well balanced piece.

DBR33 Genthelvite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.6x 3.0x 3.2 cm

$360

A damage free specimen, with a ball-like cluster of reddish-brown genthelvite. These balls were only recently found, this is about as large as they got, and this is a beautiful and well balanced example.

Although there has been a fair amount of genthelvite on the market lately, it is worth noting that the only specimens that ever made it tot he market prior to the Huanggang finds were from Saint Hilaire or Pakistan, and even among the pieces from Huanggang, few are particularly aesthetic.

ON APPROVAL

DBR6 Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
17.1x 12.3x 7.7 cm

$1850

A large cabinet specimen of blue-green fluorite from Huanggang. I have only seen a couple examples of this material, and despite some damage/ chipping, this is by far the best (and largest).

The color you see here is how it appears in sunlight-- the piece exhibits an incredible day fluorescence that causes it to appear a beautiful intense blue that is very rarely seen in fluorite.

In incandescent light the color is obviously duller, but in sunlight it is very intense.

DBR7 Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.3x 5.2x 3.2 cm

$750

A large cabinet specimen of blue-green fluorite from Huanggang. I have only seen a couple examples of this material, and despite some damage/ chipping, this is by far the best (and largest).

The color you see here is how it appears in sunlight-- the piece exhibits an incredible day fluorescence that causes it to appear a beautiful intense blue that is very rarely seen in fluorite.

In incandescent light the color is obviously duller, but in sunlight it is very intense.

DBR8 Apophyllite

Chaobuleng, East Ujimqin Banner, Dongwu Qi), Xilin Gol League (Xilinguole Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.3x 6.2x 6.0 cm

A rare specimen of gemmy pink apophyllite from Chaobuleng, another one of the new mining areas in Inner Mongolia, though one which has been less prolific than those in the Huanggang group.

This piece is remarkably similar to the classic St. Andreasberg, Germany pieces from the 1800's. The luster is superb, and the color saturation is much better than any of the pinks from India-- of course 99.9% of the Indian examples are green.

DBR34 Sphalerite (Yellow!)

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.4x 2.6x 2.6 cm

A large crystal of yellow sphalerite with minor fluorite. The piece has a slightly etched surface that prevents it from appearing perfectly gemmy (causing more surface reflection) but internally the piece is as good as any of the best from here. With a bit of backlighting, (as in the picture to the right) the piece really lights up. Contacted on the reverse, displayable from the sides or front.

DBR99 Sphalerite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.7x 4.2x 2.2 cm

$395

A pair of yellow sphalerite crystals on an arsenopyrite matrix, with dolomite. Rare matrial!

DBR34 Sphalerite on Lollingite with Arsenopyrite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.5x 6.4x 4.2 cm

$640

A 2 cm yellow-green or this exceedingly rare and highly sought after sphalerite crystal on matrix. The piece has to be backlit to really bring out the color, as the surface tends to reflect a bit. In any case, it is a fairly large crystal of this exceedingly rare and highly sought after material-- with better color, this would easily be over $3000... I have been offered lesser pieces for almost as much direct from China. Some contacting on the reverse.

DBR98 Sphalerite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.7x 3.8x 2.8 cm

$450

A miniature specimen hosting two yellow sphalerites perched on a column of clacite.

DBR34 Sphalerite on Lollingite with Arsenopyrite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
5.0x 4.5x 2.8 cm

$395

A single yellow-greenish sphalerite on a flattened piece of manganocalcite.

DBR9 Quartz incl. Hedenbergite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.3x 7.2x 5.5 cm

$650

A ball shaped cluster of light green, hedenbergite included quartz. The piece is in remarkably good condition, especially when you consider how many crystals there are and how small they are. The picture below this description shows the side-- the brownish area is not damage, simply where the cluster starts to intersect with the matrix.

It reminds me a of a curled up hedgehog....

DBR10 Manganocalcite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.6x 10.5x 6.8 cm

$485

A cluster of very thin light pink manganocalcite crystals arranged into stacked intersecting clusters. Given how thin the crystals are, there is a bit of edge damage (see bottom image), though it is in remarkably good condition compared to the others I have seen. I only mention the edge wear for the perfectionists, because from the front it might as well be perfect...

DBR11 Cavansite

Wagholi, near Poonah, Maharashtra, India

8.2x 6.5x 3.9 cm

$150

A nice cluster of cavansite crystals on matrix.

As an interesting side note, the quarry where cavansite is found is located in a huge complex containing several very large quarries. Cavansite and pentagonite have only been found in any appreciable quantity in part of one of those quarries, even though all are located within approximately 2 square kilometers of land.

In the early 90's, the cavansite producing quarry (known locally as the Dhood (Milk) Quarry) had not yet reached the cavansite bearing zone, so the few rare clusters that occurred commanded prices in the thousands of dollars. But these days they are as abundant as ever, and prices are much lower.

DBR12 Lollingite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.5x 8.0x 8.5 cm

$880

A large (approximately 5 lb) cluster of lollingite sheaves. It is best displayed as shown to the right-- from the front and angled slightly upwards. For the sake of completeness, I included pictures of the side and back.

DBR13 Fluorite

WITH NELENITE/ SCHALLERITE

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.0x 5.0x 4.8 cm

$500

A large colorless fluorite crystal with a bit of matrix. There are internal cleaves and the bottom edge appears to have been touching another crystal, but there is no damage. I have a seen a number of these things by now, and I have to say, for a crystal of this size to not have a tip missing or be chipped is NOT COMMON.

DBR14 Genthelvite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.7x 3.1x 2.4 cm

$240

A "toenail" specimen of brown genthelvite on matrix, with minor lollingite.

DBR15 Quartz with Lollingite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 6.1x 5.3 cm

$600

Recently there have been a number of very good lollingites found at Huanggang, though it has been somewhat difficult to find particularly good looking combinations specimens with the mineral. This piece features a lollingite sheaf attached rather aesthetically to an elongated cluster of quartz crystals.

DBR16 Genthelvite on Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
9.6x 6.0x 4.4 cm

$685

A small cabinet specimen of pinkish genthelvite on quartz. There is one area of damage visible in the pictures that prevents this from being a $2000 specimen. Still it is very rich and nicely arranged example of this (relatively) novel material, even featuring a few spherical clusters of the mineral clustered together.

DBR17 Quartz with Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.2x 8.0x 7.3 cm

$475

A cluster of quartz crystals with some colorless fluorite octahedrons near the base. The quartz crystals show the hundreds of lateral faces that make the quartz from this location so distinct.

There is a chip near the termination of one of the quartz crystals, but nothing major.

DBR18 Manganocalcite on Hedenbergite included Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
15.1x 10.3x 5.5 cm

$325

A plate of green hedenbergite included quartzm hosting several stacked clusters of thin manganocalcite crystals.

DBR19 Quartz with Fluorite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 6.2x 5.6 cm

$285

Numerous quartz crystals, some with a black coating and the largest being a sort of scepter, sharing a matrix with a group of colorless fluorite crystals.

DBR20 Quartz

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
11.0x 3.3x 4.5 cm

$235

A large "scepter" composed of numerous stacked beta quartz crystals, these odd quartz clusters are one of the hallmarks of the Huanngang mines. The luster ont his one is unusually good-- they are almost always heavily etched, leaving them with micoscopically rough surfaces that diffuse light and take away their shine. That is not the case with this one, though.

DBR21 Fluorite Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.0x 3.1x 2.3 cm

$120

A miniature specimen of colorless fluorite on matrix. Perfect front the front, from the back (bottom right image) you can see the imprints of where there was once another crystal, though this is not damage.

DBR22 Quartz on Manganocalcite

Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.5x 5.3x 3.3 cm

$185

A quartz crystal on a manganocalcite rhomb. The manganocalcite rhomb actually hosts a second generation of manganocalcite that has grown over the edges of the piece-- in the bottom right image I am holding it in a way such that the reflection makes this second generation more visible.

DBR23 Colemanite

Boron, California, United States

16.2x 9.3x 6.0 cm

$250

A nice cluster of cavansite crystals on matrix.

In the early 90's, the cavansite producing quarry (known locally as the Dhood (Milk) Quarry) had not yet reached the cavansite bearing zone, so the few rare clusters that occurred commanded prices in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But these days they are as abundant as ever, and prices are much lower.

DBR24 Clinoclase

Majuba Hill Mine, Pershing Co., Nevada, United States

20.0x 17.5x 8.5 cm

$365

An unusually rich large cabinet specimen of clinoclase, a hydrous copper arsenate from the Majuba Hill Mine. Simply put, there is a lot of clinoclase on this thing.

DBR25 Amethyst

Las Vigas, Veracruz, Mexico

12.5x 12.2x 6.1 cm

$285

A nice specimen of purple amethyst on a contrasting matrix coated by a druse of calcite crystals. Olde

DBR26 Helvite

Tongbei, Fujian Prov., China

9.3x 4.7x 3.1 cm

$220

A small cabinet specimen, with a few crystals of orange Helvite, the main crystal measures just over 1 cm. These specimens come from the same locality that yielded the spessartine/ smokey quartz bonanza several years ago, in fact you can see crystals of both those minerals on this piece as well.

The locality actually consists of a large granite hill. At present, most of the workable part of that hill has been carved away to excavate for specimens.

DBR27 Rhodochrosite

Pasto Bueno, Pallasca Prov., Ancash Dept., Peru

5.3x 3.2x 1.6 cm

$200

Ex. Ernie Schlichter

An old specimen of rhodochrosite from Pasto Bueno, likely discovered in the 1970's or early 80's. The Schlichter label identifies the white crystals as apatite, and also makes note of a couple tiny (few mm) red huebnerites on the reverse

It is worth noting that until the discoveries at Uchucchacua ,this mine produced the best Peruvian rhodochrosites-- the best examples would be easily confusable with very good pieces from Sweet Home. This is a more modest example, but today is still a rare specimen from the locality.

DBR28 Fluorite

Xianghualing Mine, Linwu Co., Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

5.6x 2.4x 3.6 cm

$140

A miniature specimen featuring a couple perfect, very sharp and damage free crystals on Fluorite on matrix. The fluorites show light phantoms.

DBR29 Anilite

Champion Mine, Painesdale, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA

6.7x 4.4x 1.3 cm

$385

A very rich and exceedingly rare specimen of the copper sulfide anilite from the Michigan copper country. Anilite is Cu₇S₄.

DBR30 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

4.8x 3.0x 1.9 cm

$175

A rare specimen of cronstedtite from the Llallagua Mine. I purchased these from a miner at the locality in 2008. I recently rediscovered this and the following piece in my basement...This is a very rich example of this serpentine group species, something that really does not turn up often.

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania. As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.

DBR31 Cronstedtite

Siglo XX Mine, Near Llalagua, Oruro Dept., Bolivia

4.0x 3.7x 2.1 cm

$165

I have seen them for sale only a couple times, from Bolivia and Romania. As a side note, this species simultaneously contains two oxidation states of iron.