Inner Mongolia!
A selection of speicmens from new and recent finds in Inner Mongolia.
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Grid
SIG01 Lollingite with Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
16.0x 13.4x 11.0 cm
$5800
A stunning combination of quartz with lollingite, probably one of the most aesthetic and certainly the most dramatic that I have seen.
This piece consists of a starburst cluster of terminated milky quartz crystals, perched aesthetically on a pair of intersecting lollingite sprays. I have seen lots of lollingite fromt his locality, and even more quartz, but this is without a doubt one of the best combinations of the two that I have seen.
SIG02 Quartz, Scheelite, Genthelvite with Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.1x 4.1x 4.0 cm
$2600
A top combination specimen from Huanggang, consisting of a cluster of large (and very sharp) brown genthelvite crystals, perched on the end of a lolligite spray. There is also minor scheelite and some quartz, meaning that all the major Huanggang species (except fluorite) are included on this piece.
The piece is well balanced and very aesthetic, particularly for a combination of rarer minerals.
At this point, I have handled quite a few Huanggang specimens. In this size size range, particularly given the combination of species, I would consider this to be a top example.
SIG03 Quartz, Magnetite, Genthelvite with Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.1x 3.7x 3.4 cm
$0
A top combination specimen from Huanggang, consisting of a cluster of large (and very sharp) brown genthelvite crystals, sharing a magnetite matrix with a lolligite spray, minor scheelite and some minor manganocalcite rhombs.
The piece is well balanced and very aesthetic, particularly for a combination of rarer minerals.
At this point, I have handled quite a few Huanggang specimens. In this size size range, it doesn't really get much better than this.
SIG05 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.0x 4.0x 4.0 cm
$0
A beautiful fluorite octahedron from Huanggang, complete all around without any visible point of attachment. A bit of the back has been naturally etched away, making this a floater.
Most of the fluorites I have seen from this mine have surfaces that have been heavily eaten away by acid, meaning that they have to be oiled. This piece has not-- the surfaces are naturally lustrous.
Interestingly, it is the matrix specimens that always have the bad surfaces-- I can only imagine how harsh the environment must have been, as it is not unusual to to see them associated with heavily weathered ilvaite, hedenbergite, and (to a lesser extent) quartz. Fluorite obviously responds differently to the chemicals that attack the silicate minerals, but it is still interesting to note.
This is a great example of pink fluorite from this locality-- if you don't want one that has been oiled (which includes nearly all the matrix pieces), this is about as good as you are going to find.
SIG06 Cuspidine on Vesuvianite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.6x 4.4x 3.6 cm
$0
An exceptionally rich example of the rare fluorine bearing calcium silicate cuspidine, on a matrix of prismatic vesuvianite crystals.
This is one of the rarer minerals at Huanggang, there was a small lot of this material available a couple years ago but it was dissipated "behind the scenes." The couple I saw for sale later on were thumbnails of vesuvianite, with a bit of cuspidine sticking to them.
Again, this one is exceptionally rich, and certainly more significant than examples I have seen from Italy, from where the bulk of (the usually micro) specimens are known.
SIG07 Magnetite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
14.1x 10.4x 6.5 cm
$0
A large cabinet specimen of magnetite from the Huanggang Mine. This specimen is notable for its dodecahedral crystals-- this form is typically seen only from skarn deposits (such as in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, or Italy)
Owing to its visual similarity to the garnets from the same locality, some of the Chinese dealers tend to label these as andradite-- that was the case with this one. It doesn't really have any effect on their pricing--unless there happens to be even a microscopic genthelvite-- then the price shoots up.
SIG08 Genthelvite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.4x 1.9x 1.8 cm
$0
A thumbnail specimen, consisting of a ball-shaped aggregate of genthelvite tetrahedrons on a bit of quartz.
SIG09 Genthelvite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.3x 2.3x 2.2 cm
$325
A sharp cluster of genthelvite crystals perched on a quartz stem.
SIG10 Genthelvite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.5x 2.2x 2.0 cm
$220
A ball shaped aggregate of tetrahedral genthelvite crystals attached to a bit of quartz.
SIG11 Genthelvite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.0x 2.5x 1.9 cm
$285
A cluster of very sharp brown genthelvite crystals, from Huanggang.
SIG12 Ilvaite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
4.5x 4.0x 2.0 cm
$165
A pair of intersecting ilvaite crystals, from Huanggang. Ilvaite was the first mineral from Huanggang to reach the market back in 2010, and has continued to be found. This is a nice miniature that is something other than a plain single crystal.
SIG13 Lollingite with Scheelite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.2x 7.4x 6.0 cm
$650
A cluster of lollingite sheaves, associated with a terminated scheelite crystal. Scheelite and lollingite are occasionally seen separately on the same specimens, but scheelite occurring directly on lollingite is a bit less common.
The lollingites from Huanggang are the best in the world, and thanks to the mine's continued production, such specimens have become relatively accessible these days. As with specimens from any mine, the bulk of these are usually heavily damaged, though the main problem with these lollingites tends to be a lack of aesthetic form. When I see a piece with decent form, I buy it-- these are the best examples of the species, and I've learned to buy Chinese minerals as they are being found, as they inevitably disappear.
SIG14 Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.2x 5.3x 4.5 cm
$395
A smaller cluster of lollingite-- these things are usually fairly large, but this one is a more manageable size.
SIG15 Lollingite on Magnetite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.1x 6.7x 7.0 cm
$590
A great lollingite specimen, with a single, complete sheath perched atop a magnetite matrix. The distinctness of the lollingite crystal, and its perfect upright position on the matrix really set this one apart-- usually they occur as clusters.
SIG16 Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.2x 6.0x 5.5 cm
$0
A cluster of bright lollingite crystals, whose lusters are accented by numerous embedded arsenopyrite crystals.
SIG17 Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
9.5x 6.8x 4.8 cm
$490
A cluster of lollingite sheaves with arsenopyrite from the Huanggang Mine.
SIG18 Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
8.9x 5.0x 4.8 cm
$460
A cluster of lollingite sheaves on a bit of magnetite matrix.
SIG19 Arsenopyrite, Lollingite with Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.0x 5.7x 4.5 cm
$400
A cluster of lollingite crystals, made extra lustrous by the overgrowth of hundreds of tiny arenopyrite crystals.
SIG21 Lollingite with Scheelite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
17.0x 11.0x 6.8 cm
$650
A very large cluster of lollingite crystals, with a single scheelite crystal near its base.
SIG22 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
20.5x 17.0x 6.8 cm
$485
A large cluster of blue-green fluorite from finds made towards the end of 2013. The color of this piece is best under sunlight-- it is a very deep blue green (deeper than shown in the pictures). In artificial light, it takes on a purplish hue.
A couple wholesalers had these available in Tucson, I bought this piece from another Chinese dealer who only had 2. Unfortunately the bulk seemed to have significant damage problems, but this one had a reasonably clean display face.
For those interested in Inner Mongolian minerals, this is yet another novel habit from this prolific mine cluster.
SIG23 Pyrrhotite
Yindu Silver Mine, Bayan Obo, Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.5x 7.1x 5.9 cm
$265
So these are not world class pyrrhotites by any measure-- Dal"negorsk, Santa Eualia and even Trepca have produced better. But for China, I would say this is quite notable.
Prior to this find, the only notable occurrence of the mineral in China was at the Yaogangxian mine-- and when those occur, they are typically already pseudomorphed to pyrite.
This is a highly lustrous hexagonal book on a sulfide rich matrix-- the pinkish color is actually a reflection off my hand. This is probably the best example of this material that was available at the show. A single dealer set up in a tent at the Tucson had a few scattered around with her other offerings. As someone interested in Chinese minerals and especially those from Inner Mongolia, I thought they were noteworthy.
SIG24 Pyrrhotite
Yindu Silver Mine, Bayan Obo, Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
6.3x 3.4x 2.7 cm
$215
So these are not world class pyrrhotites by any measure-- Dal'negorsk, Santa Eualia and even Trepca have produced better. But for China, I would say this is quite notable.
Prior to this find, the only notable occurrence of the mineral in China was at the Yaogangxian mine-- and when those occur, they are typically already pseudomorphed to pyrite.
This is a highly lustrous hexagonal book on a sulfide rich matrix-- the pinkish color is actually a reflection off my hand. A single dealer set up in a tent at the Tucson had a few scattered around with her other offerings. As someone interested in Chinese minerals and especially those from Inner Mongolia, I thought they were noteworthy.
SIG26 Quartz on Lollingite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 10.0x 9.0 cm
$500
Repaired
A beautiful cluster of bright and lustrous lollingite crystals, with a very aesthetic quartz overgrowth.
One of the quartz crystals has been reattached, but the repair is nearly invisible and the price takes this into account.
SIG28 Manganocalcite on Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
12.5x 9.0x 7.2 cm
$0
A cluster of pointed manganocalcite crystals attached to a plate of small quartz points, turned partially greenish by hedenbergite inclusions near their bases.
SIG29 Manganocalcite on Quartz
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
7.0x 6.0x 4.1 cm
$0
A cluster of manganocalcite crystals attached to a plate of small quartz points, turned partially greenish by hedenbergite inclusions near their bases.
UAT18 Quartz incl. Hedenergite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 9.0x 3.3 cm
$480
One of the top examples from a find of hedenbergite included quartz made sometime in mid-2013.
A number of pieces were made available by a wholesaler in Denver that year, but these were cherry picked by a (discerning) friend before the show, upon their arrival at the wholesaler’s warehouse. While the majority of what I saw in Denver were single crystals, many with chips or damaged terminations, the specimens here represent some of the best from the find.
More importantly, the arrangements are quite beautiful.
The crystals themselves are a very interesting color—their cores have segments that are are somewhere between a light smoky and amethystine, with a thick outer rind that is colored faintly green by what I assume are microscopic hedenbergite inclusions. The end result is this very unusual greenish quartz. Unlike many earlier finds, the surfaces on these pieces retain a high luster (not etched, as with
UAT5 Quartz incl. Hedenergite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 5.3x 3.2 cm
$285
One of the top examples from a find of hedenbergite included quartz made sometime in mid-2013.
A number of pieces were made available by a wholesaler in Denver that year, but these were cherry picked by a (discerning) friend before the show, upon their arrival at the wholesaler’s warehouse. While the majority of what I saw in Denver were single crystals, many with chips or damaged terminations, the specimens here represent some of the best from the find.
More importantly, the arrangements are quite beautiful.
The crystals themselves are a very interesting color—their cores have segments that are are somewhere between a light smoky and amethystine, with a thick outer rind that is colored faintly green by what I assume are microscopic hedenbergite inclusions. The end result is this very unusual greenish quartz. Unlike many earlier finds, the surfaces on these pieces retain a high luster (not etched, as with most others) but still display the complex faces that care a characteristic of quartzes from this mine.
UAT6 Quartz incl. Hedenergite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
14.8x 4.6x 3.5 cm
$275
One of the top examples from a find of hedenbergite included quartz made sometime in mid-2013.
A number of pieces were made available by a wholesaler in Denver that year, but these were cherry picked by a (discerning) friend before the show, upon their arrival at the wholesaler’s warehouse. While the majority of what I saw in Denver were single crystals, many with chips or damaged terminations, the specimens here represent some of the best from the find.
More importantly, the arrangements are quite beautiful.
The crystals themselves are a very interesting color—their cores have segments that are are somewhere between a light smoky and amethystine, with a thick outer rind that is colored faintly green by what I assume are microscopic hedenbergite inclusions. The end result is this very unusual greenish quartz. Unlike many earlier finds, the surfaces on these pieces retain a high luster (not etched, as with most others) but still display the complex faces that care a characteristic of quartzes from this mine.
UAT7 Quartz incl. Hedenergite with Hematite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
10.5x 10.3x 4.4 cm
$465
One of the top examples from a find of hedenbergite included quartz made sometime in mid-2013. This piece is associated with hematite rosettes.
A number of pieces were made available by a wholesaler in Denver that year, but these were cherry picked by a (discerning) friend before the show, upon their arrival at the wholesaler’s warehouse. While the majority of what I saw in Denver were single crystals, many with chips or damaged terminations, the specimens here represent some of the best from the find.
More importantly, the arrangements are quite beautiful.
The crystals themselves are a very interesting color—their cores have segments that are are somewhere between a light smoky and amethystine, with a thick outer rind that is colored faintly green by what I assume are microscopic hedenbergite inclusions. The end result is this very unusual greenish quartz. Unlike many earlier finds, the surfaces on these pieces retain a high luster (not etched, as with most others) but still display the complex faces that care a characteristic of quartzes from this mine.
UAT9 Quartz incl. Hedenergite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
12.2x 4.8x 3.6 cm
$280
One of the top examples from a find of hedenbergite included quartz made sometime in mid-2013.
A number of pieces were made available by a wholesaler in Denver that year, but these were cherry picked by a (discerning) friend before the show, upon their arrival at the wholesaler’s warehouse. While the majority of what I saw in Denver were single crystals, many with chips or damaged terminations, the specimens here represent some of the best from the find.
More importantly, the arrangements are quite beautiful.
The crystals themselves are a very interesting color—their cores have segments that are are somewhere between a light smoky and amethystine, with a thick outer rind that is colored faintly green by what I assume are microscopic hedenbergite inclusions. The end result is this very unusual greenish quartz. Unlike many earlier finds, the surfaces on these pieces retain a high luster (not etched, as with most others) but still display the complex faces that care a characteristic of quartzes from this mine.
UKN1 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.2x 2.6x 2.6 cm
$195
A pink fluorite crystal from Inner Mongolia. It is etched ont he reverse, but shown no visible point of attachment.
UPIM1 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.3x 3.3x 2.4 cm
$280
A pink fluorite crystal from a fine made about 2 years back. Specimens from this find were notable for being floaters-- this one has no visible contact, though there is a bit of hardened mine sludge still clinging to the back.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been laquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
UPIM10 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.8x 2.3x 1.8 cm
$165
A pink fluorite crystal from a find made about 2 years back.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been lacquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
UPIM6 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
3.2x 2.4x 2.8 cm
$185
A gemmy pink fluorite crystal from a find made about 2 years back.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been laquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
UPIM7 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.4x 2.0x 1.6 cm
$85
A pink fluorite crystal from a find made about 2 years back. Specimens from this find were notable for being floaters-- this one has no visible contact.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been laquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
UPIM81 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.7x 2.0x 1.4 cm
$160
A gem pink fluorite crystal from a find made about 2 years back. Specimens from this find were notable for being floaters-- this one is a partial crystal that is etched all around, with no visible contact and a clear phantom.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been laquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
UPIM9 Fluorite
Huanggang Mine, Hexigten Banner (Keshiketeng Co.), Ulanhad League (Chifeng Prefecture), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
2.4x 2.0x 2.2 cm
$145
A gemmy pink fluorite crystal from a find made about 2 years back.
Unlike most others pink fluorites from the mine, these have not been laquered or oiled. Many specimens from Huanggang (even quartz) typically have altered rinds or acid eaten surfaces that require oiling to be appreciated-- these were somehow spared that harsh treatment and are quite displayable without any enhancements.
Please note that the color of these fluorites varies with lighting. The color is strongest under a full spectrum lightbulb, a bit weaker under fluorescent or tungsten bulbs, and a bit weaker still in sunlight.
