An unusual 13-gram crystal that is geometrically formed with zigzag patterning on all sides, giving it a sharp and almost modernist appearance from all sizes. It is a floater, complete all around except only one small 5mm contact or damage spot on one edge. These are from unprecedented 2009-2010 finds that are just completely unique for the species. Joe Budd photos

A fine, very exquisitely articulated Russian gold specimen with sharp crystals and interesting form overall. From the gold collection of F. John Barlow, sold off in 1999. Mass is 8 grams. Though obviously fine crystallized gold does not sell at spot. Joe Budd photos

This is a complete, floater gold, showing exquisite, baroque crystallization around its entire perimeter. It is a rare crystallized gold of substantial size for this locality, where most production has been of thumbnail sized examples. The gold finds here peaked about 7-8 years ago, in the early 2000s, and only a trickle has come up recently. This one came out in the earlier round of these finds, and was in the private collection of Dr. Edward David, since he purchased it in 2005. At 27 grams , it is relatively large for this find.. Joe Budd photos

A rare exchange out of the Peabody Museum at Yale (with a rather early number from the 1800s), this is a very aesthetic cluster of sharp, elongated, gem calcites which have a subtle coloring of red caused by hematite dusting. The overall effect is highly unusual! This is an old classic, found sometime in the mid to late 1800s. The aesthetics of the piece, though, are just very different than those of other such specimens because of the coloration. It is dramatic and freestanding, and nearly pristine all around. Few Yale specimens ever were traded out. This one was exchanged, I suspect, because it was of large size and had much damage around the edges. However, after I bought it from collector George Elling, who got it in a collection himself, I trimmed it to consolidate and clean up the periphery. Note the original label is included - few such were ever given out with deaccessions at Yale. Joe Budd photos

An outstanding hematite of huge proportions, from this very old find. The piece measures 16 cm across tip to tip, and 14 cm across in orientation as shown on its base. It is heavy, and visually impressive as well. The piece is 3-dimensional and looks good from all sides. This crystal is complete except for a few inconsequential small dings or damage at the base, and was long considered to be one of the finest large hematites in existence (perhaps, the finest, according to Gene Meieran's comments to me about his views on it at the time). It appeared to a stir on the market with elite dealer Bob Sullivan at the San Francisco show in approximately 1975. Gene Meieran told me that he remembers agonizing about buying it (it was expensive even then) and was beaten to the punch by Steve Smale while thinking on it overnight. Steve owned it until only recently, for over 30 years, in his important collection. It is still the finest known Brazilian hematite, most people who see it agree. The only close comparables are those few from the Kalahari fields which reach this size, though they have entirely different crystal form and habit. This specimen was featured in the exhibition "MINERAL DREAMS: Brazilian Gem treasures" at the Munich show of 2010. (video now available from BlueCap Productions). It remains an imposing, important hematite. Joe Budd photos. NOTE - THIS SPECIMEN IS ILLUSTRATED IN THE MINERALOGICAL RECORD, SEPT-OCT 1992, IN THE ARTICLE ON THE SMALE COLLECTION. THE PIECE ALSO COMES WITH A HAND-MADE 19 X 15 INCH CIBACHROME PRINT THAT STEVE MADE FROM HIS OWN PHOTO, IN HIS DARKROOM BASEMENT, BACK IN 1991. Cibachrome is now a dead photo technology, as the chemicals used have proven to be rather hazardous to health. The plus side is, though, that this print will last for a thousand years due to those same chemicals.

A dramatic, hefty specimen featuring thick wires of silver, that are now replaced by this rare cobalt-iron-nickel mineral species, safflorite. This is very likely an old piece from the middle 1900s or earlier, and came from the noted Cobalt silver collection of John Durkos, and then to collector Robert Hauck some time ago. While i have seen small examples, I have not had such a large and robust specimen before of this material. It is one of the least ugly of these historic specimens, as far as they go. Joe Budd photos

An intensely grape-juice purple amathyst cluster from the famous finds of 1991, a find which combined the famous color of the locality with both size AND lustre. Most pockets had 1 or 2 of these qualities, but not all three in the same specimen. Still to this day, this is remembered as one of the best pockets ever from the locale, and I would argue it ranks among the best pockets of amethyst, period. The piece is complete all around, showing wonderful 3-dimensionality in volume; except only for a few small contacts and one unfortunate conchoidal chip on the lower part of the termination of the central (smallest) crystal among the vertical points. Nevertheless, it is elegant and dramatic overall, and quite fine as a display piece. The piece was purchased in 1991 by Hubert de Monmonier , after the find. It was never cleaned until I obtained in in an deal with the University of Arizona Museum, where his collection was bequeathed. Approx 210 grams. Formerly on display for several years in the Monmonier colleciton exhibition at UA.

A very rare larger and fully covered example from the finds of 2006-2007 or thereabouts. The piece masses in just under a kilo! These are the world's richest specimens of the species, comparing favorably, at their best color, with the old mid-1800s material from England. This piece has gorgeous, velvety coverage of plumbogummite richly coating matrix and earlier mimetite crystals: Many of the stubby mimetites are altering or altered to plumbogummite. Although there is some bruising, as typical for the find, the piece displays dramatically and has more color and 3-dimensionality than most. it would be among the larger and more important examples of this find

This large tourmaline has tons of colors running through the rainbow as you go up to the sharp prismatic termination. This fantastic large specimen, which is complete all around and unrepaired, was mined in 2001 and sold to Matthew Webb within weeks of it coming to the US with a friend of mine. It has been out of sight in Australia ever since, and I have never seen another like it to this day. The piece features included octohedral crystals of microlite, that are easily visible, to 7 mm in size. It would be a darned good tourmaline (and, i think, a value) by any standard for its size and condition, but the microlite inclusions take it over the top in my book.