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ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
This mine was founded in 1837 and mined continuously at peak production through the US Civil War, reaching its heyday by 1900 although it remained open until 1953. Here we have a historic, significant, and luckily gorgeous specimen of the botryoidal variety of chalcopyrite called "blister copper" by the miners. It is the finest such example I have seen for sale on the market, outside of the museum collections on the East Coast. It is colorful, 3-dimensional, and large. It is also complete all around. As they are heavy and ore-rich, and were not thought as collectible at the time as the sharp chalcocites from this old mining locality, ironically fewer specimens probably survive today. At least, I see them even less on the market than the equally historic chalcocites, so this is my assumption as to why. NOTE: THE HANDWRITTEN LABEL IS FROM WILLIAM SANSOM VAUX!
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
This is one of the largest Cheshire barites I have personally seen in anything resembling good form, to survive from the mid to late 1800s era of mining here. Apparently the deposit was quite rich in barite, but I cannot imagine based on the survivors I have seen that such a large piece as this was very common in good form. And, remarkably, it IS largely intact, and has made it through unrepaired. There is some VERY MINOR edge wear, only. To preserve the antique look, I have not cleaned the piece and in fact it still has original pocket clay material adhering. It really seems microcrystallized or contacted but terminated, almost all around - except on the bottom where it is cleaved off a large matrix mass. A historic, remarkable specimen of barite from one of the early USA's more important mining locales! Thank you to James Zigras, who found in an old pamphlet published by the Chesire Historical Society the following information: the exact locale is the JINNY HILL MINE and it operated from 1838-1877. The first barite mine in the US , it was mined for the manufacture of paints in NYC. It was discovered by Benjamin Silliman (of Yale) and noted by him in 1813. He claims the mine was named for "an elderly negress who lived in that area." The vein was followed for a depth of 480 feet and several miles of tunnel were mined. At its height of production in the mid-1800s, it employed 200 people.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A rich plate with DOZENS of sharp, translucent, beautiful crystals running all over it, to 1.2 cm in length; and many of which are doubly-terminated. A vein of some white phosphate material runs through the middle. Despite its size, this plate, and the crystals on it, are largely unscathed. The piece is quite displayworthy and comes with a nice original label. Almost certainly this was field-collected on one of the famous Vaux expeditions in the early 1900s. TYPE LOCALITY MATERIAL: Paravauxite was described in 1922.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A large, showy specimen from the type locality for this important collectible copper species, with many areas of beautiful, intense deep green crystals flatlaying on the matrix (on both sides). From the noted collection of TB Wilson, whom according to the Mineralogical Record Archive on him joined the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in 1832, and was the Academy's principal benefactor. His collection was donated upon his death in 1865 .
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A HUGE cleavage section of mica variety phlogopite, from Ontario. These are old classics, and everybody knows they came out once upon a time but seldom do you see one so big and pure and fine. This is the kind of clean muscovite plates that could have been used for mica windows and lampshades in the old days. It is impressive mineralogically and historically. Weight is 4.6 pounds!
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A HUGE cleavage section of mica variety phlogopite, from Ontario. These are old classics, and everybody knows they came out once upon a time but seldom do you see one so big and pure and fine. This is the kind of clean muscovite plates that could have been used for mica windows and lampshades in the old days. It is impressive mineralogically and historically. Weight is 4.9 pounds!
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
This hefty , sharp "mica book" is a cleavage portion of a larger original crystal, preserving the outer faces but (as with all such) showing faces on the front and back that are cleaved. It weighs 2.6 pounds! From the noted Clarence S. Bement (1843-1923) Collection. Given the early accession number, and the future fate of his collection going to the AMNH in the 1900s, this was certainly obtained from him personally before his death and the purchase (followed by donation elsewhere) of the rest of his collection by financier JP Morgan.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A significant East Coast kyanite of display quality! This specimen is terminated (if crudely so as the species usually shows), and is a rare large survivor from these old quarries. It has good blue color, although dampened a bit by the natural brown oxides adhering - though I have chosen not to clean the stains and pocket clay off to preserve the antique look of the piece and thus help distinguish it from Brazilian material. However, it does have associated muscovite, as well, which in person looks quite different than anything Brazil produces with the contemporary kyanite - so I think even if cleaned to spitfire shine, this would be a distinct piece to the trained eye.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
These specimens (PAS-187 to PAS-189) were presented to the academy by the famed Dr. Domeyko in the late 1800s, who did much work on the rare minerals of Chile and Argentina. Regardless of the chemistry, the specimen has merit as a display piece of beautiful copper combinations from Chile. This piece has beautiful, powder-blue chrysocolla forming as a thin carpet in the few hollow vugs within nearly solid tyrolite! It is a beautiful miniature, trimmed by me from specimen PAS-187 above. On analysis by modern equipment, the matrix material shows to be tyrolite, clinotyrolite, and possibly other related species admixed (XRAY and powder, Bart Cannon's lab, 2008), However, apparently the official mineralogy of tyrolite classification is confusing and has changed over time. Clinotyrolite is often considered a species by many people, though without IMA approval. I quote MINDAT's page on the matter verbatim to make sure I do not mistakenly convey the science: Since it is well-known that also carbonate-free varieties of tyrolite exist, "tyrolite" may actually represent two or more minerals/polytypes. At least two monoclinic polytypes of tyrolite are known (Krivovichev et al., 2006); one of them seems to be identical to "clinotyrolite". . Note that this is the first report of the locality to MINDAT for tyrolite occurence, but it is likely that this rare species is present on other old specimens of "chrysocolla" from Chile.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A classic aluminum-containing mineral species from a very old American locality that was so important it was mined up. The diaspore was one of the two chiefly sought after minerals at the site. The diaspore, when deeply violet colored, is the queen of the location. This specimen has some decent color to it, but I have none to compare it to, in person. Note the flatlaying but clearly visible and defined crystals. From the noted W.W. Jefferis (1820-1906) Collection, and note the very early accession number of 1830 in the collection which eventually by the early 1900s numbered over 20,000 specimens.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
And you thought the Green River sandstone beds only produced fish and palm fossils, eh? Well, I did. I personally never realized that the TYPE LOCALITY for this rare sodium/calcium carbonate was in Wyoming, before now. This specimen is exceptionally rich with gemmy shortite crystals embedded in the sandstone, to 1 cm in size. This is rather large for the species, and for specimens from this locality, if what i see on MINDAT is any indication.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
According to MINDAT this species was discredited after many years, only in 1997. It is now thought to be either barian Phillipsite-Ca or calcian Harmotome - though I have not analysed this specimen to see which of these close relatives it trends to most. Originally described from Buck Creek Mine (Cullakenee Mine), Buck Creek, Clay Co., North Carolina, this locality. At the time, obviously, it was thought fairly important as it was owned by the great 1800's collector G. J. Brush who gave his collection to Yale...and then the Academy must have traded it from Yale to obtain a sample!
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
So-called Chiastolite (a species name discredited some time ago) is a variety of Andalusite containg cross-shaped inclusions of carbon that make the crystals VERY distinct, for obvious reasons. Somebody went to a lot of trouble and time to make this attractive reference set of thin-sections, cut from the cores of over a dozen crystals. The set was obviously made up to shwo the different patterns possible within, perhaps to better study their formation. Shown in normal light and, dramatically, in backlit lighting.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A classic from a very old American locality that is a varietal of enstatite but apparently still a valid species as I read it. Note the curving, bronzy," well-defined crystals. From the noted W.W. Jefferis (1820-1906) Collection. According to MINDAT, this was a "copper mine located about 1 mile NW of Mt Washington and about 3 miles NW of Baltimore. Started 1845 and closed 1880. Reopened during the period 1905." Jefferis handling of the specimen would have been from the heyday of the mine, in the mid 1800s. Note the early musuem accession number 6846, as well. This is a big, somewhat showy, display-worthy specimen from a long-vanished locality, proably under a building for 100 years now.
ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
A piece of massive, gemmy feldspar with a pleasing bluish color to it, famously used for carving in old times. It is more historic, then mineralogically interesting, as a sample from NC.
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share specimen![Chalcopyrite var. Blister Copper from Bristol Copper Mine, Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-60a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-60a.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite var. Blister Copper from Bristol Copper Mine, Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-60b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-60b.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite var. Blister Copper from Bristol Copper Mine, Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-60c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-60c.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite var. Blister Copper from Bristol Copper Mine, Bristol, Hartford Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-60d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-60d.jpg)
![Barite from Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-66a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-66a.jpg)
![Barite from Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-66b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-66b.jpg)
![Barite from Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-66c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-66c.jpg)
![Barite from Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-66d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-66d.jpg)
![Paravauxite from Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine), Llallagua, Potosí Department, Bolivia (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-106a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-106a.jpg)
![Paravauxite from Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine), Llallagua, Potosí Department, Bolivia (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-106b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-106b.jpg)
![Paravauxite from Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine), Llallagua, Potosí Department, Bolivia (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-106c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-106c.jpg)
![Atacamite from Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-62a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-62a.jpg)
![Atacamite from Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-62b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-62b.jpg)
![Atacamite from Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-62c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-62c.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-92a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-92a.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-116a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-116a.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-116b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-116b.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Bancroft, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-116c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-116c.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Burgess, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-181a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-181a.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Burgess, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-181b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-181b.jpg)
![Phlogopite from Burgess, Ontario, Canada [db_pics/pics/pas-181c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-181c.jpg)
![Kyanite from Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-67a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-67a.jpg)
![Kyanite from Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-67b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-67b.jpg)
![Chrysocolla in Tyrolite with Clinotyrolite from San Simon Mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile [db_pics/pics/pas-188a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-188a.jpg)
![Chrysocolla in Tyrolite with Clinotyrolite from San Simon Mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile [db_pics/pics/pas-188b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-188b.jpg)
![Diaspore from Chester Emery Mines, Chester, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-133a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-133a.jpg)
![Diaspore from Chester Emery Mines, Chester, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-133b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-133b.jpg)
![Diaspore from Chester Emery Mines, Chester, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-133c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-133c.jpg)
![Shortite from Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-168a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-168a.jpg)
![Shortite from Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-168b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-168b.jpg)
![Shortite from Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-168c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/m/pas-168c.jpg)
![Wellsite from Buck Creek Mine (Cullakenee Mine), Buck Creek, Clay Co., North Carolina (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-134a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-134a.jpg)
![Wellsite from Buck Creek Mine (Cullakenee Mine), Buck Creek, Clay Co., North Carolina (TYPE LOCALITY) [db_pics/pics/pas-134b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-134b.jpg)
![Andalusite var. Chiastolite (reference set of thin sections) from Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-135a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-135a.jpg)
![Andalusite var. Chiastolite (reference set of thin sections) from Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-135b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-135b.jpg)
![Andalusite var. Chiastolite (reference set of thin sections) from Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-135c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-135c.jpg)
![Andalusite var. Chiastolite (reference set of thin sections) from Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-135d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-135d.jpg)
![Enstatite var. Bronzite from Bare Hills Copper Mine (Smith Avenue Copper Mine), Bare Hills, Baltimore Co., Maryland, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-146a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-146a.jpg)
![Enstatite var. Bronzite from Bare Hills Copper Mine (Smith Avenue Copper Mine), Bare Hills, Baltimore Co., Maryland, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-146b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-146b.jpg)
![Enstatite var. Bronzite from Bare Hills Copper Mine (Smith Avenue Copper Mine), Bare Hills, Baltimore Co., Maryland, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-146c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-146c.jpg)
![Oligoclase feldspar from Plumtree, Spruce Pine District, Avery Co., North Carolina, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-147a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-147a.jpg)
![Oligoclase feldspar from Plumtree, Spruce Pine District, Avery Co., North Carolina, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-147b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-147b.jpg)
![Oligoclase feldspar from Plumtree, Spruce Pine District, Avery Co., North Carolina, USA [db_pics/pics/pas-147c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/pas-147c.jpg)