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GIBBSITE from China!
Gibbsite is one of the few beautifully crystallized,
Aluminum-dominant mineral species:
a simple aluminum hydroxide by chemistry.
They weigh nearly nothing, as if holding metallic but lightweight wood!
NOTE: EACH SPECIMEN IS PROBABLY A MIX OF BOTH GIBBSITE AND THE RARE HYDROXIDE DOYLEITE, A POLYMORPH OF GIBBSITE
FLUORESCENCE: Intense shortwave UV (green)
These specimens were found in the summer of 2009. Previously, material from here came to market in the early days of Chinese mineral exports in the mid 1990s, and again in a trickle in 2006, though I had not seen but a few pieces otherwise. The exact mine designation for those older finds, among many in the area, remains unclear to this time (sources often try to protect longer the origin of their material, in this way). I ASSUMED at first that these specimens were from the same general region as older material simply labelled "Baoshan in Yunnan Province". HOWEVER, I have good confirmation from several sources that these are, quite certainly, from HUNAN Province and are a completely new occurrence. Perhaps some of the older material was mislabelled, one wonders. I have held these for a few months, to see if more were forthcoming but it seems for now, this was a small spurt and not a flood of new specimens.
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(click on a page number to go to that page:)
page 1 / 2 - 19 specimens selected - next - bottom - back to the Galleries
GIBBS-01 - Gibbsite with Doyleite - $ 1250
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 9.6 x 7.2 x 5.8 cm
Nestled in a vug are translucent, pastel blue-green botryoidal aggregates (hemispherical) of gibbsite, to.8 cm in length, with interesting white overgrowths of the rare species doyleite. Aesthetic and complete pocket as found, and very displayable!
GIBBS-02 - Gibbsite - $ 1250
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
cabinet, 11.4 x 7.4 x 1.8 cm
Botryoidal and translucent, gray-green to apple-green, gibbsite to 1.0 cm across, totally covering the matrix. The shape and look of the botryoidal aggregates are reminiscent of Arkansas wavellite. This is a VERY RICH, fine specimen with unusually large botryoidal crystallization - rarely seen in the find, and thus the pieces stands out from the rest here for that reason.
GIBBS-03 - Gibbsite - $ 175
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 7.4 x 5.2 x 2.4 cm
This is a sculpturally interesting specimen of gibbite on a thin matrix crust. The gibbsite is translucent, ranges in color from gray to green and has botryoidal aggregates reaching .5 cm across.
GIBBS-04 - Gibbsite - $ 900
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
cabinet, 10.8 x 9.2 x 7.8 cm
Translucent, gray-green botryoidal aggregates of greenish-gray gibbsite, to 1.0 cm across, are aesthetically emplaced deep in a vug. I really like the sculptural quality of this specimen and that it shows a whole, entire pocket as found (aside from the quality of the crystallization itself). The shape and look of the botryoidal aggregates are reminiscent of Arkansas wavellite. This is a VERY RICH, fine specimen with unusually large botryoidal crystallization - rarely seen in the find, and thus the pieces stands out from the rest here for that reason.
GIBBS-05 - Gibbsite - $ 950 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
cabinet, 12.4 x 6.9 x 2.2 cm
Stalactitic fingers of botryoidal, translucent, greenish-gray, gibbsite to 1.0 cm across, point skyward in an aesthetic manner. Unusually dramatic , 3-D specimen.
GIBBS-06 - Gibbsite - $ 200
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 6.9 x 4.8 x 1.8 cm
This oysterlike specimen exhibits botryoidal, green gibbsite, to .3 cm across, nestled in a vug.
GIBBS-07 - Gibbsite - $ 175 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 6.4 x 5.8 x 2.4 cm
Emplaced on a crust are botryoidal aggregates of greenish-gray gibbsite, to .3 cm across. Pretty piece but with some obvious front damage.
GIBBS-08 - Gibbsite - $ 350 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 8.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 cm
Almost covering all sides of a stalactitic finger of matrix are translucent botryoidal aggregates, to .7 cm across, of greenish-blue gibbsite..
GIBBS-09 - Gibbsite - $ 200 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
miniature, 5.1 x 4.4 x 1.6 cm
Emplaced on a 3-dimensional crust are botryoidal aggregates of greenish-gray gibbsite, to .3 cm across.
GIBBS-10 - Gibbsite - $ 750 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
cabinet, 11.4 x 7.4 x 2.6 cm
Covering a large crust of matrix are botryoidal aggregates of translucent, greenish-blue gibbsite, to .5 cm across. Very large and colorful plate for the find!
GIBBS-11 - Gibbsite - $ 400 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
cabinet, 11.2 x 6.3 x 5.8 cm
Thin septae of matrix are host to one layer thick, botryoidal aggregates of greenish-white, gibbsite, to .5 cm across. A very 3-dimensional piece with unusual color gradation to a pastel powder-blue in some places.
GIBBS-12 - Gibbsite - $ 400
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 9.1 x 4.6 x 4.4 cm
Thin, lightweight, boxwork septae, is the host for botryoidal aggregates of green gibbsite, to .5 cm across. Unusual 3-dimensional specimen!
GIBBS-13 - Gibbsite - $ 750
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 9.8 x 7.5 x 6.3. cm
Lustrous and translucent, green botryoidal aggregates of gibbsite, to .7 cm across are situated under some snow white gibbsite, to .7 cm across, in and on a limonite vug. Aesthetic! A very 3-dimensional piece with unusual color gradation to a pastel powder-blue in some places.
GIBBS-14 - Gibbsite - $ 225
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 8.8 x 5.5 x 4.8 cm
A thin crust of lustrous and translucent, green, gibbsite, in botryoidal aggregates to .7 cm across, emplaced on matrix.
GIBBS-15 - Gibbsite - $ 250 SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
small cabinet, 9.1 x 3.3 x 2.2 cm
Two mounds of translucent, green, gibbsite with botryoidal aggregates to .7 cm across, sit on a thin crust of matrix. Aesthetic!
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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