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FRANK VALENZUELA collection
Frank Valenzuela is known to many people only as a "miner" who brings new finds and old collections he turns up down to the Tucson show for sale. He has been there since the beginning, in fact, about 50 years ago. He is indeed a miner and consultant for mining in the area. However, he is also (more importantly for us!) a very sophisticated Arizona collector who has, over 50 years of self-education and persistence, built a large collection specializing in aesthetic minerals of the copper districts of Arizona. Many of them are self-collected or obtained by exchange since about 1950. He grew up in San Manuel, a small mining town in the mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. His family was involved in the local industry: mining. He learned the trade from relatives including his inlaws and his uncle, a famous driller at the Mammoth-St Anthony mine named Max Chavez (you can still buy a mining postcard at the historic museums showing Max drilling in the mine, from the 1930s). Frank collected minerals himself, and got sophisticated taste by his late teenage years, understanding the pursuit of the aesthetic specimen at a time when most miners simply collected ore samples. By the time he was 20, he was a shaft superviser at the Inspiration Mine. He made his first big trade with fellow shaft supervisor Tex Burlison while working there around 1960, trading old antique mine bottles for a favored specimen. He later worked prominently at the Ray Mine (where he collected the famous copper twins in 1975), and other famous mines throughout southern Arizona. He has a large collection, and is alive and well. This is a small cull from the collection and I hope to present more in the future. Interestingly , as a side note, Frank keeps himself busy and plays actively in music bands in the area, continuing the Mexican-fusion tradition of music he loved when he played with his cousin long ago, Ricardo Valenzuela Reyes (i.e. Ritchie Valens).
FVCOLL-01 - Gem Silica - Chalcedony on Chrysocolla - $ 10000 SOLD Inspiration Mine, Inspiration, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 8 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
This piece looks fake, in person. It has the most intense bright turquoise blue color I have ever seen in a specimen. It is a bubbly, 3-dimensional example of a rare SPECIMEN quality "gem silica," that is practically glowing with color. This is old material, and over the years has been treasured as cutting and lapidary material , where it sells by the gram. It is actually chrysocolla, with an overlay of transparent chalcedony (quartz) which gives it strength and sparkle. I have never seen a piece of this magnitude of color and brightness, on the market. Frankly, I ignore the material most of the time as it is usually in the form of flat slabs or little seams/pockets in big matrix. This is a SPECIMEN, though: two sided and nearly complete. It is not entirely complete - there are some gaps in coverage, due to contact or damage around the bottom periphery, but it certainly is complete on the display faces where it matters and all around the top, 360 degrees. I showed it to oldtime Arizona collecting expert Bob Jones, who was as impressed as I was; but comes to the scene with a much greater knowledge of context. He told me it was the best he had seen for sale in 60 years of collecting Arizona material, better than any he had obtained for his own Arizona collection when he was actively collecting; and he thought about buying it, even though he no longer has an Arizona collection. The piece is one of the oldest specimens in Frank Valenzuela's collection, and the oldest valuable specimen he had kept through years of trading and upgrading. He has been collecting since he was a teenager in the early 1950s (Frank is 73 now). After proving himself a pretty smart guy, he was promoted to a shaft supervisor position at the Inspiration Mine by the late 1950s, in his early 20's. He made friends with an older miner and fellow shaft supervisor, Tex Burlison, at that time. Tex had collected this piece in the late 1940s, and kept it for himself on a mantle at his home. Frank recalls always wanting this piece, the best piece of the whole shelf there, but Tex would never sell it to him. Well, it turns out that Tex's wife collected old antique bottles. Seeing another angle, Frank spent 3-4 years collecting old bottles he would find in the mine shafts here and in other Arizona mines he explored (some dating to the late 1800s) . He assembled a whole collection of them which he traded to Tex for this piece in the early 1960s. Is it expensive? Absolutely. It was dear to Frank and it was dearly sold to me. But at the same time, it is a perhaps unique piece of superb quality and unusual aesthetics. Moreover, it is 70 years out of the ground, surviving when most such material was long ago cut for pendants and belt buckles, and they are not exactly making more of this at other mines. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-02 - Quartz ps. Chrysocolla ps. Azurite - $ 13500 Live Oak Pit, Inspiration Mine, Inspiration, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 6.5 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
An example of this material would be a highlight of any major collection of the US classics , Arizona minerals, or in a pseudomorph collection. Or, just because they are so unique and beautiful, in any collection - I am not aware of pieces that look like this from anywhere else. But, there are few to be had. This large piece features unusually sharp crystals, whereas most are rounded. It displays well horizontal or vertical. As a bonus to its beauty, these crystals are actually a rare double pseudomorph! The quartz has replaced chrysocolla, which itself has replaced malachite. Some people say that the malachite replaced original azurite crystals, as well. Then, a layer of sparkly gem chalcedony (quartz) draped and coated it all , for sparkle and a thin transparent coating that also is protective of the altering chrysocolla underneath. With intense color, sharp form, and good size, this is an impressive piece that just "glows" with translucency, instantly visible in a case for its purity of color and its brightness. My own instincts and experience say this is very good. According to a very prominent Arizona collector I showed this to after acquisition, this is hands down one of the best examples of the material (and he knows more than I). According to MINDAT: "Mineralization also involves the copper silicate Live Oak vein. All outcrops of this vein has long since been obliterated by caving operations of the Inspiration Mine. The vein occupied a fissure in the sill-like body of granite porphyry facies of the granite that overlies the schist in the western segment of the Miami-Inspiration disseminated copper deposit. The chrysocolla was undoubtedly deposited by supergene solutions that collected in the fissures and contained copper leached from the surrounding rock." (see http://www.mindat.org/loc-6777.html) . In other words, a rare and now vanished occurrence. I often see damaged, rounded examples which seem rather lumpy to me, for sale at already high prices. This one is one of the best such examples I have handled or seen in collections, including the major old Arizona collections. It has been in the Frank Valenzuela collection for nearly 40 years. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-03 - Wulfenite (large crystal) on Barite - $ 6000 Rowley Mine, Theba, Painted Rock District, Painted Rock Mts, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA miniature, 5.5 x 4.9 x 3.7 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
If you only saw the photo, you would think this was a thumbnail specimen...rather, it features a 2.4-cm across and 6mm-thick wulfenite on classic Rowley matrix. This is the largest, fattest, crystal I have seen from here. It is an electric orange color , not orange-red as they usually are, and it has superb lustre. This shockingly large crystal is unbelieveable for Rowley and is perhaps the largest known for the mine (at least, according to Frank, to what I have seen, and to what a noted Arizona collector also told us). Frank traded it from a collector who found it in the 1960s, he recalls. It has a thin crack running diagonally at the lower, left edge of the crystal, but is not repaired - the surrounding barite anchors the crystal securely at multiple attachment points on the left, right sides, and with little blades reaching up behind the crystal to attach it solidly to the matrix. The barite itself is a little friable and has been stabilised lightly with glue behind the wulfenite, on only a small portion of the rear of the matrix where cracks exist (behind and to the right of the crystal). It is trimmed exceptionally well, to make a balanced, important miniature. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-04 - Smithsonite (Cuprian) - $ 2800 SOLD 79 Mine, Hayden area, Banner District, Dripping Spring Mts, Gila Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 6.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
The finest and most lustrous, deep green cuprian smithsonites from this unusual mine were recovered in the early 1990s (George Godas and George Stevens with John Callahan) and sold at Tucson and to local collectors of the area. Frank Valenzuela was cut in early on the find, and purchased this piece from the miners before the Tucson Show of 1993. It is a superb, 3-dimensional, bubbly smithsonite with unusually uniform and rich color. The large smithsonite bubbles atop are complete all around, 360 degrees. It is simply at the top of its game for the size and is a quality level hard to come by today. There have been new finds, a few new pockets here over the last 20 years, but in general this first and earliest find is regarded as most desirable. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-05 - Chalcoalumite with Azurite - $ 1200 SOLD Lavender Open Pit Mine, Bisbee, Warren District, Mule Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 8.7 x 6 x 5 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
Worked from 1954 to 1970, this was once a HUGE open pit mine over 750 feet deep. It is famous for a find of these sparkly, turquoise-blue chalcoalumite specimens, often associated with a deeper electric-blue azurite. This is classic for the finds, and with the rich association is just a beautiful specimen. It is of very good size, too - most we have seen are smaller. The chalcoalumite forms rich growths into a protected pocket and so is preserved in excellent condition. Frank Valenzuela obtained this specimen as a gift from his wife's uncle, Daniel Estrada, who was a driller for this mine (He collected this piece in the late 1950's). Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-06 - Chalcedony on Chrysocolla stalactites (pocket) - $ 5000 SOLD Inspiration Mine, Inspiration, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 9 x 7 x 6 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
Frank Valenzuela obtained this specimen from a fellow miner at the Inspiration, where he was a miner and then a shaft supervisor in the 1950s-1960s. It was collected, he recalls, in the early 1960s. It is a classic example of the quartz-covered chrysocolla stalactites from that time, but unusual in that it was preserved as a whole pocket. The piece glows when backlit, as the top surface is partially translucent and there is a small hole in back of the vug, to let light into the pocket for backlighting. The largest stalactites are 2 cm. The pocket opening is 2 inches across. Overall, a unique, interesting, and very beautiful piece that I have long lusted to obtain from the collection and bring to market. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-07 - Wulfenite with Mimetite - $ 2500 Rowley Mine, Theba, Painted Rock District, Painted Rock Mts, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 7 x 6.2 x 6.2 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
Rowley Mine has historically produced many specimens of beautiful, windowpane wulfenite crystals; but this is much more important than the norm for both the size of the gem-clear wulfenite crystals (to 1.7cm), and for the contrasting association with the rounded aggregates of crystallized orange mimetite needles. Mined in the 1970s, this has been in Frank Valenzuela's collection since that time. The crystals are pristine save only for one inconsequential, very small ding on one horizontal edge's back face of the larger crystal. It is not repaired, and the pocket is sturdily protected upon a solid matrix that can be easily held and handled, as opposed to the often fragile gossan matrix specimens from this mine. Nevertheles, due to the fragility of the windowpane crystals themselves, this specimen must be hand-delivered upon sale. A remarkable piece from this classic US locale! Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-08 - Smithsonite with Aurichalcite - $ 1200 SOLD Kelly Mine, Magdalena, New Mexico, USA small cabinet, 9 x 7 x 4 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
A very rare example of isolated , rounded crystals of smithsonite for this locale. Most smithsonite from Kelly is in the form of thick botryoidal masses. This particular style is very seldom seen, and particularly in association with nice, discrete balls of aurichalcite. Although there are a few peripheral smithsonites with minor damage, the major crystals are pristine and fine. The color contrast is striking, and rarely seen on the market compared to the more common sort. Surely an old specimen, which Frank obtained from mine owner Tony Otero in the early 1980s. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-09 - Smithsonite (Cuprian) - $ 1500 79 Mine, Hayden area, Banner District, Dripping Spring Mts, Gila Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 6 x 4.8 x 4 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
The finest and most lustrous, deep green cuprian smithsonites from this unusual mine were recovered in the early 1990s (George Godas and George Stevens with John Callahan) and sold at Tucson and to local collectors of the area. Frank Valenzuela was cut in early on the find, and purchased this piece from the miners before the Tucson Show of 1993. This is a superb, 3-dimensional, bubbly smithsonite with unusually uniform and rich color. The periphery is free of matrix and is highly translucent - the photos convey some of that by noting a lighter color, where light comes through from behind, on the edges. Specimens of this quality are hard to come by today. There have been new finds, a few new pockets here over the last 20 years, but in general this first and earliest find is regarded as most desirable. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-10 - Azurite on Malachite (circa 1900) - $ 6000 SOLD Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Warren District, Mule Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA small cabinet, 8 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
The famous Copper Queen Mine was the star of Bisbee, as far as the collecting community was concerned, and produced the most famous large azurite specimens to be distributed around the world at the turn of the 1900's by dealers like AE Foote. There were many styles of azurite produced there, including druses and crystals of varying shapes and sizes. Other finds and mines here produced sharper and larger crystals, per se. But this particular style, with glistening and royal blue rosettes of azurite perched upon velvety malachite, is certainly the most desired form from the Copper Queen itself; and would have to be considered THE stereotypical "top shelf" azurite style of the day. Today, few turn up , only from old collections. We have seen several fetch incredible market prices. This is a rather good size, and features half a dozen azurite clusters of top lustre and sparkliness, perched on the intense green malachite. Some of the malachite is bruised or rubbed, on the edges, but the azurites themselves are in perfect condition. The large cluster atop is 2 cm across, and its terminations stand above the matrix for 3-dimensional display. This is a specimen from the early 1900's, that Frank Valenzuela obtained in trade from another collector perhaps 30 years ago. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-11 - Brochantite - $ 1200 SOLD Shattuck Mine, Bisbee, Warren District, Mule Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA miniature, 5.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
A sparkling cluster of intergrown , intensely green brochantite crystals from the classic Shattuck Mine finds , which produced briefly some of the finest Bisbee brochantites (1970s, I believe). This was obtained by Frank from a shaft miner who worked the mine at the time. Brochantite is a fairly rare crystallized species, and these robust crystals with metallic lustre have always been considered desirable, and relatively inexpensive for the quallity for the species on a worldwide basis. As is typical for this find, the crystals are an intergrown mass and of course some are intact, and some are not. This is a fine large miniature, complete all around with coverage. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-13 - Chrysocolla ps. Malachite ps. Azurite with Wulfenite - $ 2500 SOLD Whim Creek Copper Mine, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Pilbara Region, Western Australia, Australia small cabinet, 8.5 x 8.5 x 4.2 ex. Frank Valenzuela
These come from a remote copper mine , and only out of old collections now. This is one of the few larger examples of this old classic Aussie material I have seen on the market, and features a nice ridge of sharp crystals perched on contrasting matrix. The crystals are to just over an inch and are actually a rare double pseudomorph! The chrysocolla has replaced malachite, which itself replaced the original azurites. Small gem orange wulfenites add decoration, a classic association for the locale. Overall, then, this is both big and unusually fine for its aesthetics. I was told that most of these came out prior to the 1970s, and Frank obtained it in trade at Tucson one year. He loved it because of the similarity to the pseudomorphs of his Arizona locales. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-14 - Chalcedony on Chrysocolla - $ 750 Inspiration Mine, Inspiration, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA cabinet, 10.5 x 9.5 x 6.5 cm ex. Frank Valenzuela
A cute pocket of rounded chrysocolla nubs, coated by a transparent , thin layer of gem silica which acts as a protective and sparkly coating. The pocket is within the nodule in which it formed, so you can see the context. A rare, larger example in good shape, that probably dates to prior to the 1970s. Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-15 - Chrysocolla with Malachite and Quartz - $ 950 SOLD Inspiration Mine, Inspiration, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA cabinet, 13.5 x 9.6 x 6.3 cm ex. Rice Northwest Museum
A gorgeous polished nodule of gem grade carving rough of the best color of "gem silica," chrysocolla and quartz mixed together along with malachite (the malachite in the form of needle-like inclusions). This is classic old material for the mine, but seldom do you see such large nodules still around as they have always been, and remain, desirable for lapidary use. The colors here are both particularly intense and contrasting. From the Rice Northwest Museum collection, originally donated by its founders Richard and Helen Rice (cat #207). I believe there is a fair amount of lapidary value to this specimen, and it is a beautiful piece even "as is." Weight is 2 pounds Joe Budd Photos.
FVCOLL-16 - Azurite - $ 750 SOLD Carlota Mine, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA miniature, 3.6 x 2.9 x 1.5 ex. Frank Valenzuela
Frank Valenzuela obtained these from a onetime pocket found in the deeper levels of this little known mine, and brought them out in Tucson of 2010. This was one fine miniature he kept for his own collection , which is particularly strong in Globe-Miami pieces. The color is intense, more like Tsumeb or Milpillas than like the normal Arizona azurites. Thick, blocky, lustrous crystals will make this an important, classic find looking back on it. No more have been found since. Joe Budd Photos. Found in 2009
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