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.

US$    € EURO    ¥ YEN    £ POUND    CAN$    AUS$   

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GIBBS-19 - Gibbsite - $ 750
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 6.8 x 6.2 x 5.3 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu19a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu19b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu19c.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu19d.jpg]

Several vugs in this specimen are hosts to lustrous and translucent botryoidal aggregates of green gibbsite to 1.5 cm across. This unusual specimen can, therefore, be viewed several ways. Neat! 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-18 - Gibbsite - $ 500
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 6.9 x 5.9 x 2.6 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu18a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu18b.jpg]

A thin boxwork of matrix is host to a crust of UNUSUALLY waxy & lustrous , translucent, green, gibbsite, to .5 cm across. Aesthetic and finer in outright quality than most such specimens.


GIBBS-17 - Gibbsite - $ 300
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 8.8 x 7.4 x 2.1 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu17a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu17b.jpg]

Lustrous and translucent, grayish-green, botryoidal aggregates of gibbsite to .5 cm across, totally cover their matrix. There are also some veins of a white phase of gibbsite for unusual accent


GIBBS-14 - Gibbsite - $ 225
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 8.8 x 5.5 x 4.8 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu14a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu14b.jpg]

A thin crust of lustrous and translucent, green, gibbsite, in botryoidal aggregates to .7 cm across, emplaced on matrix.


GIBBS-13 - Gibbsite - $ 750
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 9.8 x 7.5 x 6.3. cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu13a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu13b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu13c.jpg]

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-12 - Gibbsite - $ 400
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 9.1 x 4.6 x 4.4 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu12a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu12b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu12c.jpg]

Thin, lightweight, boxwork septae, is the host for botryoidal aggregates of green gibbsite, to .5 cm across. Unusual 3-dimensional 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
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu06a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu06b.jpg]

This oysterlike specimen exhibits botryoidal, green gibbsite, to .3 cm across, nestled in a vug.


GIBBS-04 - Gibbsite - $ 900
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

cabinet, 10.8 x 9.2 x 7.8 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu04a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu04b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu04c.jpg]

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-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
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Gibbsite with Doyleite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu01a.jpg]
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Gibbsite with Doyleite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu01b.jpg]
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Gibbsite with Doyleite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu01c.jpg]

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
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu02a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu02b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu02c.jpg]

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-15 - Gibbsite - SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 9.1 x 3.3 x 2.2 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu15a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu15b.jpg]

Two mounds of translucent, green, gibbsite with botryoidal aggregates to .7 cm across, sit on a thin crust of matrix. Aesthetic!


GIBBS-16 - Gibbsite - SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

small cabinet, 8.8 x 4.8 x 2.9 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu16a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu16b.jpg]

Pastel, greenish-blue, botryoids of gibbsite, to .3 cm across, are nestled in a vug. A very 3-dimensional piece with unusual color gradation to a pastel powder-blue in some places.


GIBBS-11 - Gibbsite - SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

cabinet, 11.2 x 6.3 x 5.8 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu11a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu11b.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu11c.jpg]

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-09 - Gibbsite - SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

miniature, 5.1 x 4.4 x 1.6 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu09a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu09b.jpg]

Emplaced on a 3-dimensional crust are botryoidal aggregates of greenish-gray gibbsite, to .3 cm across.


GIBBS-10 - Gibbsite - SOLD
Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China

cabinet, 11.4 x 7.4 x 2.6 cm
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu10a.jpg]
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Gibbsite from Xianghualing polymetallic ore field, Chenzhou Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/new09/fiu10b.jpg]

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!



(click on a page number to go to that page:)

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 page 1 / 2  -  19 specimens selected  -  next  -  top  -  back to the Galleries 



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