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from the TUCSON and MUNICH shows
TUC104s-07a - Limonite ps. Marcasite - CAN$ 99 SOLD White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Matruh Governorate, Egypt thumbnail, 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm
This is one of the most unusual of the famous White Desert pseudomorphs I have seen, basically a round donut. It looks bizarre! These are found in the deep desert, near the border with Libya
TUC104S-07B - Limonite ps. Marcasite - CAN$ 130 SOLD White Desert, Farafra Oasis, Matruh Governorate, Egypt thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm
Quite simply one of the SHARPEST of the famous White Desert pseudomorphs I have seen, and overall a superb thumbnail. Most small ones are just small. This, though, is something special. Would love to sell as a set with the previous item 07a, for $200 for the two pseudos, as I think they make a marvelous contrasting pair. These are found in the deep desert, near the border with Libya
TUC104S-08 - Coquimbite with Chalcanthite - CAN$ 624 SOLD Javier Mine, Ayacucho Department, Peru miniature, 4.0 x 4.0 x 4.0 cm
This is one of the larger and most colorful specimens overall, in a lot I obtained at Tucson from this small 2009 find. Really quite remarkable for both species AND for a locale from which we never suspected or saw such things before! The purple coquimbite is included with internal specks of bright blue chalcanthite crystals. I have not seen this before and even in this find, it is not common. These crystals are among the world's best of species now, for both form and the robust purple color. This crystals are so well-developed, and so fine, some of the best of these look more like an Afghani apatite than any coquimbite i have seen from other locales, and many people were saying they are now among best of species material at the show. I am told a limited number came out. From the several hundred specimens we saw, we selected a few dozen of which this, although small overall, is one of my favorites.
TUC104s-10 - Limonite stalactite - CAN$ 2079 Herdorf, Siegerland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany cabinet, 16.1 x 6.2 x 5.7 cm
This is a beautiful limonite specimen (yes, I know that phrase seems an oxymoron!). But, in fact it is a really impressive specimen in person. This large stalactite is complete all around and is smooth and bubbly, but complex at the same time. It comes from an old German collection.
TUC104S-11 - Quartz var. Amethyst - CAN$ 8109 SOLD Goboboseb, Namibia cabinet, 11.0 x 8.0 x 4.5 cm ex. Marc Weill
Aesthetic, undamaged, unrepaired matrix specimens are EXTREMELY uncommon from this locality. This particular specimen is a very aesthetic cluster, complete all around, and showing quartz of several styles on one piece. It has phantoms and inclusions that make it more interesting. The grape-jelly purple color is all the more intense when contrasted to the crystal-clear, colorless tips. (and in fact, this deposit is known for such phantom crystals). It is pristine, razor-sharp, all around. The more you look at the piece, the more complexity you see; but first of all the impression is of condition, and color. Matrix amethysts are hard to pry from the tough rocks of these mountains, and despite a huge interest in collecting there today , few come out. Usually, to get a piece like this, one would have to remove a large block of matrix with a diamond chainsaw, to minimize vibrations and damage in collecting. Trimming later is admittedly risky, but necessary to produce a piece like this of good size and balance. They just do not "come out" like this! It is a superb piece literally in the top percentile for its size amongst thousands of other specimens to come from these mountains in recent years. It seems expensive, I admit - but to my eyes it stands out so dramatically from the crowd, that it IS a premium piece. Aesthetic, undamaged, unrepaired matrix specimens are EXTREMELY uncommon in this quality level and size, despite increasing use of diamond chainsaws to extract them. The deposit just doesn't cooperate in making them. Formerly in the noted collection of Marc Weill.
TUC104S-12 - Fluorite - CAN$ 4158 SOLD Tule Mine, Melchor Muzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico cabinet, 15.8 x 11 x 9.5 cm ex. Marc Weill
This is a superb, very colorful example of the classic stepped, intricate fluorites from this mine. It is a solid fluorite specimen, like a stalactite, complete all around. It is unusually deeply colored, and unusually well-formed for this locality, from which most fluorite comes in broken-off plates , or in smaller growths than this. The piece is nearly pristine with only a very few small, trivial little cleaved tips. Otherwise, it is complete all around. The complexity introduced by the multistepped faces makes it very reflective , too. In back, there are some small accenting white calcite "balls" attached. A remarkable specimen, from a classic fluorite locale. Formerly in the noted collection of Marc Weill.
TUC104s-13 - Pyrite on Hematite - CAN$ 6238 Rio Marina, Elba Island, Livorno Province, Tuscany, Italy cabinet, 16.0 x 14.0 x 9.0 cm ex. Marc Weill
This specimen is from classic 1960s finds here, known as one of the most stylish pockets produced by the famous iron mines of this island. It features DISCRETE AND ISOLATED crystals of pyrite to 4 cm, well spread out on sparkling, specular hematite matrix. The contrast is striking, in person! Usually the pyrites are intergrown and a large specimen like this might be more "clunky" than elegant. Due to the 3-dimensional nature of the piece, and the skill of the trim work done, though, it displays very elegantly indeed. It is hefty, at 7.5 pounds weight. Formerly in the noted collection of Marc Weill.
TUC10NAM-20 - Shattuckite (rare crystals ps. after Malachite) - CAN$ 3119 Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 6.8 x 5.2 x 4.3 cm ex. Charlie Key
A rare, crystallized shattuckite specimen! Crystals, such as this, are much more uncommonly seen from any deposit where this species is found, than druses and globular growths. These are actually pseudomorphs after malachite, I was recently informed. Nevertheless, this is the BEST locale for the species, for large crystals - and this specimen would host some of the larger ones that I know of. The crystals , to 3 cm, form an upside-down spray of elongated, acicular crystals atop a contrasting quartz matrix. THESE ARE VERY 3-DIMENSIONAL in person. The cluster is complete around the backside as well (showing xls to 2 cm on the reverse, admixed with malachite). A major specimen, for both significance and display, this piece was illustrated in the JAN-FEB 2010 issue of ROCKS & MINERALS magazine, in the "Connoisseurs' Choice" Column, a recurring feature on a particular species and some of its significant known specimens. This was found 2-3 years ago, and is from the collection of noted dealer and miner, Charlie Key, also then in the Marshall Sussman collection til now
TUC10NAM-21 - Shattuckite - CAN$ 9356 Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia cabinet, 11.4 x 7.2 x 6.4 cm ex. Charlie Key
Here is a COMPLETE POCKET of high-grade velvety shattuckite, literally perched on its own natural pedestal and complete all around! Mineralogically, a fascinating piece, I think. How could such a thing survive, its beyond me; but apparently the shattuckite geode survived intact when surounding calcite or quartz was dissolved or etched away in nature. The pedestal of malachite and quartz sets the pocket up nicely, vertically, in a completely unique manner. The exterior of the pocket is solid shattuckite in a banded growth, which conformed (i presume) to the shape of the void in calcite or quartz that it filled, back in geological time. Now with that exterior mold removed, all the natural roughness of the exterior is starkly contrasting to the soft velvety, rounded shattuckite inside the pocket.This was found 2 years ago, and is from the collection of noted dealer and miner, Charlie Key, also then in the Marshall Sussman collection til now
TUC10NAM-22 - Shattuckite - CAN$ 1248 Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8.4 x 6.6 x 4.1 cm ex. Charlie Key
Here is an unusual pocket piece, a stunning specimen of velvety shattuckite of a vivid blue color, in soft rolling carpets of acicular tiny crystals, filling a shallow cavity on this matrix specimen. The curving of the pocket, and the banded rim around it, combined with the accent of sparklling green malachite, make this a very visual and showy specimen. This was found 2-3 years ago, and is from the collection of noted dealer and miner, Charlie Key, also then in the Marshall Sussman collection til now
TUC10NAM-65 - Shattuckite - CAN$ 988 Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia miniature, 4.0 x 2.6 x 2.5 cm
This is a surreal, powdery-blue sculpture made of solid shattuckite. It consists of what seems to be a spherical aggregate of crystals atop a natural twisting pedestal. It is complete all around save for a few minor indentations in back (growth contacts). Very unusual formation, and while it looks stalactitic, they do not form in the same process. I was told by one person that it might be a pseudomorph after chrysocolla, as well. Unusual, in any case!
TUC10NAM-66 - Shattuckite (rare crystals ps. after Malachite) - CAN$ 2079 SOLD Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia miniature, 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0 cm
A rare, crystallized shattuckite specimen! The big crystals, such as this, are much more uncommonly seen from any deposit where this species is found, than druses and globular growths. In fact, I believe this is the BEST locale for the species, for such crystals (though it should be noted they are replacements pseudo. after malachite) - and this specimen would host some of the larger ones that I know of. The crystals , to 2 cm on the front display face, form a solid interconnected mound of spraying , elongated, acicular crystals atop a mound of contrasting deep green malachite. The cluster is complete around the backside as well (showing xls to 3 cm).
TUC10NAM-67 - Wulfenite - CAN$ 2859 Onderra Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 7.7 x 5.6 x 4.8 cm ex. Charlie Key
This is a massive, heavy wulfenite specimen with huge, thick bipyramidal (unusual!!) crystals to 6 cm across! Here is a real rarity for the locality, in any size. And yet, beyond that, its HUGE. This is a piece from the Charlie Key collection, found about 3 years ago (2007-2008) in exploratory mining at this prospect (others in a recent update I made on this site were found more recently). It would be important from ANY locale. From here, its simply off the books and a shock to see. Despite its size, it is nearly pristine on the display face (just a few minor bruises, hard to spot). It is not complete on the backside, but is complete on 3 sides otherwise. This piece displays well either horizontally or vertically. Note also that this is a fairly rare habit for wulfenite, in bipyramidal crystals. So far as I know, this would be among the largest, if not the largest, bipyramidal wulfenite crystal out there. Most I have seen of this habit are 1-2 cm in size, max. This was found 3 years ago, and is from the collection of noted dealer and miner, Charlie Key, also then in the Marshall Sussman collection til now
TUC10NAM-70 - Shattuckite pocket in quartz - CAN$ 3119 SOLD Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8.1 x 6.0 x 5.0 cm
Much shattuckite has come out, and often you can get beautiful drusy carpets of the crystals, which look like blue velvet, on thin plates. Sometimes you get nice pockets, but not always of this top quality. This is TOP quality for condition, color intensity, and a rolling 3-dimensional surface inside. It screams out in color, and is one of the best such pockets I have seen in the few years of trickling production out of here. There are really few colors in nature so intense. This vug is nearly 2 inches across, and the crystals within are pristine and protected. Again, if you think you have seen TOP color for this material, i can only say that this piece is another 10% beyond, in color, anything I have seen for sale on a general basis.
TUC10NAM-71 - Shattuckite - CAN$ 936 SOLD Okenwasi Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia miniature, 4.0 x 3.1 x 2.4 cm
A cute pocket, in massive shattuckite, containing sparkling, acicular shattuckite crystals forming a carpet over rolling hills of massive shattuckite matrix. A beautiful and choice miniature, showing the whole pocket in which the crystals form.
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