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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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