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TUC104-01A - Galena - $ 11250 SOLD Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA cabinet, 13.7 x 13 x 9 cm ex. Dr. Steve Neely
This hefty galena specimen is really impressive in person. It is just a little bit more metallic, lustrous, sharp, and symmetric than most in this size class. It is nearly undamaged, and complete all around, except for a few minor contacts. Together, those qualities really make it stand out from the crowd - and yes, tonnage quite literally was mined here. Nevertheless, out of all the thousands of specimens that came out in the heyday here, this is definitely in the top percentile as far as the subtle qualities that make it appealing to a collector can be judged. It was long in the Steve Neely collection, and then sold in 1997 with that collection. It was purchased then by French collector Eric Asselborn for his own collection. So, it has graced the shelves of two notoriously picky (and knowledgeable) collectors who were looking for the very BEST of a find. Yes, it looks expensive in flat photos. No question, it IS expensive and I am sure each of them felt the same way. However, this combination specimen, with its minor attached matrix, really looks stunning in person and is worth the premium if you have seen the tables of slightly less perfect material and always wanted one that is "a little better." It is so sharp, and so symmetric, that this looks more like a Spanish pyrite in its simple geometry, than anything. 9.5 pounds weight! One of the few of these relatively common specimens in collections that has ever floored me, visually.
TUC104-01B - Orthoclase (gem variety of feldspar) - mined circa 1900 - $ 9500 SOLD Itrongay, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar small cabinet, 6.2 x 5.1 x 4.6 cm ex. Richard Kosnar
This is a superb, unusually large and intensely colored gem crystal of feldspar. Feldspar, a common "rock-former" mineral species, seldom forms crystals of truly gem quality. This famous old locality is one of the few exceptions to the rule. The intense yellow to straw yellow orthoclase feldspars from here DO generally exhibit this lustre, clarity, and pizzazz. However, most are small, rounded, and just not significant in a general sense. This is a monster for the locality, 181 grams in mass, and complete (or near enough) on the display faces. As with most crystals from the locale, it is contacted on back. There is some minor edge wear and a little bit of more serious damage to the edges near the base of the piece (as shown), but overall it is an important piece in very displayable form. And given the context, the slight wear is acceptable to me in order to get such a significant and unusual specimen. This was long in the collection of Richard Kosnar of Colorado, who apparently got it from an old museum collection . It was said to have been found circa 1900. Note it is both lustrous and gemmy, so the combination of photos should show you its brightness and, by inference from the zones where you do see through it, how gemmy it is - but it IS better in person . Comes with custom lucite display base
TUC104-02 - Silver on Quartz - $ 13500 SOLD Silver Islet mine, Silver Islet, Sibley Township, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada cabinet, 11.9 x 7.0 x 5.2 cm ex. Charles Leavitt
This is a highly important specimen for what it is, not just for the massive amount of crystallized silver present but also for the locale. Silver Islet is a famous old location mined circa early 1900s. It is now closed and gone forever. It was one of those funny stories in mining that you hear about and cannot believe - they actually mined this silver from an islet in the Great Lakes, while pumping water out from behind barricades. Verifiable Silver Islet specimens are few and far between. This is typical of the style and matrix association, and comes from the private silver species collection of a dealer known to specialize in such pieces, and verified by Rod Tyson (an expert on such). However, one seldom sees anything beyond small pieces from here. This monster, at 455 grams and complete all around as a display quality specimen, is truly significant. Comes with custom lucite display base. Ex. Charles Leavitt Collection (well known for a large and diverse silver suite).
TUC104-03 - Spodumene var. Kunzite - $ 2900 Pech, Kunar Province, Afghanistan small cabinet, 9.6 x 4.3 x 1.8 cm ex. james houran
A sharp, very aesthetic , cluster of two elongated kunzite crystals. Clusters such as this are uncommon, usually being found just as singles. This piece has classic pink color, not intense but not pale either. It is especially notable, though, for the razor sharp terminations from a locale where most kunzite terminations are etched and not as sharp. It is pristine, and complete all around. Formerly in the Jim Houran collection, of Dallas, TX. This piece is illustrated in book IKONS: Classic and Contemporary Masterpieces, by Wayne Thompson , 2007 (shown in a travelogue section as an acquisition made on one of his many buying trips to Pakistan in the 1980s-1990s).Comes with custom lucite display base
TUC104-04 - Aquamarine on Feldspar with Albite - $ 4000 Shengus, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan cabinet, 10.4 x 10.3 x 6.7 cm
This sharp specimen is a juxtaposition of contrasting geometry. I find it striking: the sharp and stark white feldspar vs. the elongated gem blue aqua prism next to it. The aquamarine is 6.25 cm tall, 1.75 cm wide, and about 1.5 cm thick. It is nestled against the side of the incredibly sharp, porcelain-like feldspar, and rises straight up. The aquamarine is repaired near its base, but fairly cleanly and it is hard to spot (this is reflected in the price on a specimen that was $9000-10000 otherwise). It has just very trivial edge wear atop. It is complete all around, otherwise. A nest of rhombohedral albite crystals drapers the right side of the feldspar, and firmly anchors in and surrounds the base of the aquamarine for added accent and complexity.
TUC104-05 - Tourmaline var. Rubellite - $ 6500 Mawi, Nuristan, Laghman Province, Afghanistan small cabinet, 6.4 x 4.4 x 3.7 cm
Rarely do you see a rubellite from this locale in matrix! Most often, they are just singles, or have some minor attached matrix at base. This, however, is a doubly-terminated, pristine, 5.8 x 3 x 2 cm crystal that is perched aesthetically still on its matrix. This is a frozen doubly-terminated crystal! It COULD be pried cleanly out of matrix (and as a floater, worth more?), but these are so rare, I would not want to. This was collected around 2003-2004. Comes with custom lucite display base
TUC104-06 - Sulfur on Aragonite - $ 3000 Racalmuto Mine, Agrigento Province, Sicily, Italy small cabinet, 8.8 x 7.0 x 4.3 cm
This specimen presents isolated, intense yellow crystals of sufur on stark white matrix of spiky little aragonite crystals. The crystals are to 3 cm in size, and pristine despite the age, and the softness of fragile sulfur crystals. This is a display-quality example of this CLASSIC material, now seldom seen in this quality for sale. A lot of more recently mined sulfur specimens was available briefly in the 1970s, and also some notorious fakes created around the same time. This piece, however, dates back firmly to a major multigenerational collection of Milan that was assembled in the second half of the 19th centruy. It has been confirmed as a valid historic specimen by Dr. Federico Pezzotta of the MUSEO DI STORIA NATURALE in Milan, which has an extensive comparative collection. Comes with custom lucite display base
TUC104-07 - Graphite - $ 750 SOLD Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka small cabinet, 8.0 x 6.4 x 3.8 cm
This is actually a rather remarkable specimen, due to both its size (and mass at 166 grams) and the preservation of crude crystal habit in the shape. This is a famous locale for so many species of gem crystals, that one can forget it was once also important for samples of native graphite. Today, one rarely sees them on the market - and I imagine few good ones are kept even when found, given that sapphires and rubies are so obviously more valuable to the miners. So, I was quite happy to find this specime, which I consider as remarkable as any sapphire I have offered from here, and perhaps more rare.
TUC104-08 - Willemite var. yellow - $ 950 SOLD Level 46, Tsumeb, Namibia thumbnail, 2.4 x 1.1 x 1.1 cm
Strange elongated crystals of this rare varietal of willemite, yellow willemite, were found sporadically in small pockets in the deepest workings of the third oxidation zone at Tsumeb (I am told mostly in the mid to late 1970s). Many such examples were mistakenly identified as the more common adamite, or as the more rare species warikhanite. But this style, shown here, is really quite distinct. This is a superb, full thumbnail sized example of Tsumeb yellow willemite. It is a vivid yellow color, and sparkles like sugar! From an old German collection I recently got into, this is one of the best quality examples of the material I have seen for sale (in any size range)
TUC104-09 - Hubnerite (rare locale) - $ 950 Advance Mine (Zaca Mine), Colorado Hill, Monitor-Mogul District, Alpine County, California, USA cabinet, 11.7 x 7.5 x 5.0 cm
I had personally never seen a California Hubnerite before. This was a total surprise to me, when I noted the label. I am still surprised, as I lived in California for 8 years and never heard of such a thing. But here one is, and cabinet sized no less. It was obtained by dealer Scott Kleine from an old collection recently, and seems legit - it certainly looks like no hubnerite I have seen from elsewhere, for combination of style and matrix. The matrix matches that described on MINDAT as: a hydrothermal vein deposit hosted in andesite, rhyolite, tuff, basalt, and sedimentary breccia (http://www.mindat.org/loc-3431.html). A curiosity for the collection of US minerals and tungstates! NOTE - i was recently told that collector Neil Prenn supplied many of these to the market in the 1980s, when working the property as a mining consultant.
TUC104-10 - Chalcopyrite - $ 300 Friedrich-Wilhelm Mine, Herdorf, Siegerland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany miniature, 5.1 x 3.7 x 2.6 cm
A sharp, BRILLIANTLY COLORFUL chalcopyrite specimen from this classic locale. It has a natural lustre that is so metallic and so bright, it looks chemically induced (but is not!). This specimen features pagoda-like clusters of crystals to 1 cm, in aggregation on massive matrix. It has some damage to the bottom portion, but the upright towers of crystals are the focus. For the locality, a stunning specimen
TUC104-11 - Caledonite - $ 950 SOLD Reward Mine, Manzanar Station area, Inyo Mts (Inyo Range), Inyo Co., California, USA miniature, 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.8 cm
This gorgeous miniature hosts a rich caledonite crystallization, including a relative larger (for both species and locale) crystal of 8mm. Trimmed to a thumbnail, it perhaps would be improved in balance and aesthetics, actually. Found in late 2008, these are modern classics for the species, surely the best material found in decades. This piece has a rich covering, and much to look at.
TUC104-12 - Pyromorphite - $ 1850 Jeanette Mine, Kransberg, Usingen, Taunus Mts, Hesse, Germany small cabinet, 7.4 x 5.5 x 4.4 cm
A large, rich specimen from this rare pyromorphite locality, that has been intermittently collected through modern times. I am told this piece was found prior to the 1970s, and I obtained it from an old German collection. It is a massive, heavy, colorful specimen of 247 grams. In person, in fluorescent lighting, this has a deeper, waxy-green color to it.
TUC104-13 - Papagoite with Ajoite (type locality) - $ 800 New Cornelia Mine (Ajo Mine), Ajo, Pima Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 9.5 x 7 x 5.0 cm
This is a type locality specimen , and a very rich one at that, of papagoite from the New Cornelia Mine, Ajo, Arizona. It is handsized, nearly cabinet in size class. Although the crystals are individually micros, there is a huge and rich carpet of them upon matrix, on a dark vein of the same material. The piece is also sprinkled with aquamarine-blue ajoite microcrystals amidst the papagoite. Ajoite was discovered in 1958 and papagoite was discovered in 1960 at this locality. This must have come out at or near that time, as it comes with a label from the Valluzzo collection, on which is hadnwritten the note "new species." A good combo specimen of these very rare species! Today, one can get specimens of each, but generally only as inclusions within quartz from South Africa's Messina Mine.
TUC104-14 - Metacinnabar - $ 4500 SOLD Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Diablo Range, Contra Costa Co., California, USA cabinet, 14.4 x 13.4 x 4.8 cm
At nearly 930 grams, this is a HUGE and significant example of this rare species, from perhaps its most classic old locality as far as actualy display-quality specimens go. This specimen is covered by a blanket of fat, thick crystals to 6mm, a thousand of them. It was traded to me by a collector who got it some time ago through an exchange with the California Institute of Technology's collection. Ugly perhaps, but for size and location, an important California specimen.
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