A dramatic , oldstyle fluorite specimen from the classic Illinois mines. This one ended up in Europe decades ago, and is now being repatriated perhaps. It features intense, saturated purple color with sharp phantoms inside. True, it needs backlighting to be appreciated - but not all that much, and it is worth the effort to aim a light inside as you can see. The sharp cubic fluorites are accented by sharp scalenohedral calcites like little flowers on the surface, front and back. The cluster is complete on the front and sides, nearly so on the back; and is contacted on the bottom. Ex. Klaus Neumann collection. Joe Budd photos.

A superb, completely pristine, floater spinel crystal that for its size has about the sharpest form and best edges of any thumbnail I have seen. It has a vivid, deep red color and an internal brightness that complements the extremely high and glassy surface lustre (whereas some are a more matte finish). This is just a world class, gem spinel thumbnail crystal. It is 14.21 carats. Ex. Bill Larson ("Burma Bill") and Ron Pellar thumbnail collections. Joe Budd photos.

A gorgeous example of vivid yellow and green pyromorphite, with the colors grading and intermixing, from the famous mid-1980s find here. This choice miniature has robust , upright crystals standing on contrasting matrix - a very rare and desirable combination for pieces from the mine. Most pyromorphite was found as a thick covering of matrix, and few with such isolation, and contrast, were ever recovered. that special aesthetic makes this an extremely choice miniature...and it is priced at a premium for the overall aesthetics then, not for solid coverage, per se. The piece is perfect, pristine, and undamaged . It is complete all around, 360 degrees, even the sides. From the collection of Carlton Davis of Ohio. Joe Budd photos.

Acanthite thumbnails are common enough, but this piece has a symmetry and form that really makes it leap out, even amongst all the examples out there. I found it mesmerizing when I first saw this on exhibit in the Pellar collection competitive cases when I lived in California in the early 1990s. It is 360-degree complete all around, and is more than just a "small example", transcending to be superb thumbnail way beyond the norm for a relatively common species. Ex Star van Scriver collection, in 1983, to thumbnail collector Ron Pellar. Was in his 1989 National Award winning trophy case of thumbnails. Joe Budd photos.

This very rare matrix liddicoatite specimen features a 3.5-cm crystal , doubly-terminated, perched in a matrix of crystallized cleavelandite and quartz. The crystal is very gemmy, so that you can look into it and through most of its depth. The termination is phenomenally sharp. The display aesthetics of this very gemmy, lustrous crystal are great! Rarely do you see one on good matrix, from this classic locale. Older specimen, probably from the early 2000s and not a recent find. Joe Budd photos.

A choice green fluorite of high color saturation, is perched dramatically on the side of a terminated crystal of orthoclase, on this very sharp combination piece. The color is really as juicy as shown - rare for the deposit. The fluorite, to 1 inch on edge, has small octohedral modifications on its corners, classic for this locale. It has small purple phantoms at some tips, as well. The perch up on the feldspar, though, makes this stand out from all others I have seen of the style. It is super elegant, and complete all around. Joe Budd photos.

A very fine example of this classic occurrence. This piece features a 5.5 x 4 x 2.5 cm azurite rosette perched on a very well-excavated natural pedestal of kaolinized clay matrix - a rarity from a place where most such collected specimens are smaller, and have fallen off the matrix. The matrix is friable and has been stabilized in the past by soaking in a light dilution of glue - as are the majority of pieces from here. An old classic, with an A.L. MCGuinness label from the 1960s or 1970s. Joe Budd photos.

An old classic, seldom seen today! The stalactites and tentacles of this piece give it real dimensionality and character. It is sparkling and somehow "colorful" despite its gray-brown hue. The size is good, to fit in with other significant Mexican specimens in most collections. These willemites were found in the 1950s and 1960s, I am told (but unsure of more detail). I had seen only a handful before, until the Prince collection came to light and we found her stash of dozens of these specimens. However, this was an older piece I obtained in purchasing the old Gary Hansen collection, and it has more 3-dimensionality and lustre than most such that i have seen either in old collections or in some of the newly resurfaced material from the Prince collection (which I also bought and have been selling in the auction site). Joe Budd photos.

This jewel-like cluster features brilliantly clustrous, clear fluorites showing cuboctohedral crystals with dramatic an dcomplex modifications to their tips. They are perched on equally sparkling sulfide matrix of pyrite , making for a stark contrast that really just leaps out , despite not having the traditional pastel color hues most Naica fluorite has. The overall look of this subtly complex piece is just different, and more brilliantly lustrous, than most Naica specimens. Despite the good photos, it is even better in person. One of the special fluorites among many in this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

A complex crystal cluster of fluorite consisting of gemmy, pastel-green, highly modified cubes, sits atop a perch of sphalerite in this elegant and really special combination piece. The quality is amazing - you just have to see it in person to grasp all the complexity, and catch the full gemminess. One special bonus are the tiny, brilliantly metallic, sprinkles of pyrite floating about inside. It is 360-degrees, complete all around! One of the special fluorites among many in this fine old Mexican mineral collection. Joe Budd photos.

Found in about 2008, these so-called "alien phantoms" fluorite crystals made a big impact on the market. Only a few small pockets were found, and then the style has not been seen since. This is a cluster of very translucent, sharp crystals that show dramatic purple phantoms in the corners of a richly saturated green core. It is complete around the display face with only minor wear (typical for the material), though is not complete in back. Joe Budd photos.

A STUNNING, totally gem, pristine, perfect windowpane wulfenite crystal from the early 1980s finds here. Ex Star van Scriver collection, in 1983, to thumbnail collector Ron Pellar. Joe Budd photos.