A major, cabinet sized Bisbee azurite from the early 1900s! This piece is 3-dimensional and complete all around the sides and top, with winglike azurite clusters sticking out on all sides. It looks good vertical, horizontal, and upside down. It was Frank's major large Bisbee piece, and is a true rarity on the market today. The crystal coverage is amazingly rich - most of these have smaller coverage , areas of damage, or are just not so 3-dimensional in covering the matrix. Here, the azurites, to 1 inch in size, are also decorated with small spots of malachite for contrast. Ex Frank Valenzuela collection. FURTHER PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

This is a rarely-seen specimen from the famous find of March 1974, of spinel twinned coppers at the Ray Mine. Frank Valenzuela was one of the miners who collected and dispersed this pocket, and this was one of two specimens he kept for his own collection. Some people thought Frank was "just a miner", but he is a knowledgeable and astute collector with superb taste, in addition to his lifelong jobs in mining in Arizona. He knew what he found, and actively sought specimens in places others may not have. This find is perhaps the single most famous copper find in the state of Arizona, and in fact in recent memory from any locality. Specimens from this pocket are on the cover of the Mineralogical Record and in major private collections, one having changed hands for over several hundred thousand dollars. They have an elegance and beauty, but also a historic importance to them, now. This piece has never been cleaned and retains its original patina of rich chocolate tones with moderate lustre. It could be brightened if desired, without removing the patina in full. This fine copper is from the core copper suite of the Frank Valenzuela collection. His best suite is , I think, the copper subcollection, with focus on historic Arizona locales. Seldom does he part with a copper of any kind in trades or sales. This was a special case, as part of a one-time sale from the collection, that will not be repeated any time soon. Shown is a photo of Frank holding this piece (he has a watercolor painting of it to remember it by). Joe Budd Photos. For more on this important find, see also American Mineral Treasures pages 86-93 on the Ray Mine. A copper from this find is one of the most rarified and important of Southern US classics.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.