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PAS-151 Searlesite - $950 (SOLD) Westvaco mine, Green River formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming CABINET, 11.3 x 7.2 x 1.8 cm
This is a HUGE crystal for the species, showing an 8 cm-tall subtermination leading up to the main termination above. These are giants for the species and it is an attractive specimen from a state which frnaky doesn't give us a lot fo great mineral species. It is coated in some edges by another white, powdery mineral species (perhaps norsethite but not yet tested).
PAS-152 Eucryptite - $400 (SOLD) Abija N. Fillow Quarry (Branchville Quarry), Branchville, Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut (TYPE LOCALITY) SMALL CABINET, 9.3 x 7.0 x 2.8 cm
From the TYPE LOCALITY 1880, this specimen has small grains of eucryptite embedded in the albite matrix. They are FLUORESCENT orange. According to MINDAT, named in 1880 by Brush and Dana from the Greek for "well concealed", in allusion to its occurrence embedded in albite. I have not seen a type locality piece for sale before
PAS-155 Barite - $500 Jinny Hill Mine, Cheshire, New Haven Co., Connecticut CABINET, 14.1 x 11.0 x 4.6 cm
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. There is some edge wear, of course, and a few bruises and breaks. this is not pristine. But it is showy and impressive, for a historic 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.
PAS-156 Umangite, Clausthalite, & friends - $750 (SOLD) Sierra de Cacheuta, Mendoza, Argentina Miniature, 4.2 x 3.8 x 1.3 cm
There is a lot more than clausthalite in here! I am told that if you have purple (and you do, visible, here!), you have umangite; and its a good bet there is klockmannite as well, and potentially all kinds of other good things. This specimen also contains Copper selenides because of the green secondaries. The non-metallic blue on there is likely chalcomenite, in fact. These specimens were presented to the academy by Casimiro Domeyko, who did much work on the rare minerals of Chile and Argentina. This specimen is more colorful than the specimen below. Note they do not fit together, but seem to have come from the same vein as they are similar enough. Note these are for sale "as is" with the ID as "Clausthalite and friends"...I have not analysed them.
PAS-157 Umangite, Clausthalite, & friends - $300 (SOLD) Sierra de Cacheuta, Mendoza, Argentina Miniature, 3.5 x 3.1 x 1.4 cm
A slightly less rich example than the above specimen, but clearly collected at the same time and in fact with the same number painted upon them. There is a lot more than clausthalite in here! I am told that if you have purple (and you do, visible, here!), you have umangite; and its a good bet there is klockmannite as well, and potentially all kinds of other good things. This specimen also contains Copper selenides because of the green secondaries. The non-metallic blue on there is likely chalcomenite, in fact. These specimens were presented to the academy by Casimiro Domeyko, who did much work on the rare minerals of Chile and Argentina. This specimen has more silvery metallic material running along one face, a color seemingly absent in the specimen below. Note these are for sale "as is" with the ID as "Clausthalite and friends"...I have not analysed them.
PAS-158 Bismuth nugget - $350 Chorolque Mine, Atocha-Quechisla District, Sud Chichas Province, Potosν Department, Bolivia Miniature, 4.2 x 3.6 x 2.3 cm
A really neat, hefty Bismuth nugget! Large bismuth nuggets are extremely uncommon from anywhere, and they were noted historically at this important and classic locale. These were collected on the 4th Vaux-Academy expedition, 1929-1930. MASS = 122 grams . This specimen comes with a color copy of the label to PAS-160.
PAS-159 Bismuth nugget - $400 Chorolque Mine, Atocha-Quechisla District, Sud Chichas Province, Potosν Department, Bolivia Miniature, 4.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 cm
A really neat, hefty Bismuth nugget! Large bismuth nuggets are extremely uncommon from anywhere, and they were noted historically at this important and classic locale. These were collected on the 4th Vaux-Academy expedition, 1929-1930. MASS = 162 grams (SHOCKINGLY HEAVY when this little thing is put in your hand...). This specimen comes with a color copy of the label to PAS-160.
PAS-160 Bismuth nugget - $600 Chorolque Mine, Atocha-Quechisla District, Sud Chichas Province, Potosν Department, Bolivia SMALL CABINET, 6.0 x 4.7 x 2.3 cm
A really neat, hefty Bismuth nugget! Large bismuth nuggets are extremely uncommon from anywhere, and they were noted historically at this important and classic locale. These were collected on the 4th Vaux-Academy expedition, 1929-1930. MASS = 211 grams
PAS-161 Topaz - $750 (SOLD) Old Mine Park, Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut SMALL CABINET, 7.0 x 5.8 x 5.5 cm
This is a VERY fine, display-quality topaz crystal (such as they form from here), from the first tungsten deposit discovered in North America. This color and style is actually typical of old material found in Connecticut in the early 1800s, and even prior into the late 1700s. Perhaps something is included within the topaz to give it the earthy look? This is a 5 cm crystal with a contact termination on one end. Ugly by some standards, but historic and loveable to others. NOTE ON LOCALITY (with thanks to Jim Chenard for this information): The old mine park (trumbull) is located close to the Trumbull/ Monroe city line. per W. H Hobbs 1901 U.S.G.S 22nd Annual Report: " The original openings bore the name of Lane's Mine of Trumbull. On account of the occurrence of native bismuth and galena on the property of a Mr. Lane in the adjoining township of Monroe, and the opening of pits there, much confusion has arisen and there are many references to an occurrence of Wolframite in Monroe, which with little doubt, meant for the Trumbull locality." The early labels for the Topaz suggest that the pieces reflect this early labeling. This accounts for the early labeling of Monroe, Connecticut. Benjamin Silliman initially noted the early location as 4 miles south of Monroe in 1826, and subsequently corrected it.
PAS-164 Topaz - $750 Old Mine Park, Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Connecticut SMALL CABINET, 8.0 x 7.6 x 4.9 cm
This is a VERY fine, display-quality topaz crystal (such as they form from here), from the first tungsten deposit discovered in North America. This color and style is actually typical of old material found in Connecticut in the early 1800s, and even prior into the late 1700s. Perhaps something is included within the topaz to give it the earthy look? this is a 4.5 cm-tall crystal with a SUPERB termination for this material, measuring about 2 x 2 cm atop. Ugly by some standards, but historic and loveable to others. NOTE ON LOCALITY (with thanks to Jim Chenard for this information): The old mine park (trumbull) is located close to the Trumbull/ Monroe city line. per W. H Hobbs 1901 U.S.G.S 22nd Annual Report: " The original openings bore the name of Lane's Mine of Trumbull. On account of the occurrence of native bismuth and galena on the property of a Mr. Lane in the adjoining township of Monroe, and the opening of pits there, much confusion has arisen and there are many references to an occurrence of Wolframite in Monroe, which with little doubt, meant for the Trumbull locality." The early labels for the Topaz suggest that the pieces reflect this early labeling. This accounts for the early labeling of Monroe, Connecticut. Benjamin Silliman initially noted the early location as 4 miles south of Monroe in 1826, and subsequently corrected it.
PAS-162 Thulite - $200 Southern Pinenut Mountains, Red Canyon District, Douglas Co., Nevada SMALL CABINET, 9.3 x 5.6 x 3.5 cm
Thulite turns out today to be known as a manganoan, pink variety of zoisite. It is still rather uncommon, and this piece has a large display face with crystalline thulite , particularly good on the right side.
PAS-163 Antillite - $750 (SOLD) Regla, near Havana, La Habana Province, Cuba (TYPE LOCALITY) SMALL CABINET, 8.1 x 7.1 x 6.9 cm
This is still a poorly categorised mineral (perhaps due to lack of study samples?), originally described from near Havana, La Habana Province, Cuba. It is a magnesium iron silicate that is not yet formally approved as a species pending more work. This specimen is very rich with the material, dark black masses within the lightweight matrix. For the mineralogist with research facilities access, this could be a fun one to play with. It is also big, and will yield many study samples for exchange and work. Besides, how many minerals do you see from old Cuban mines? Note late 1800s AE Foote label.
PAS-167 Chalcanthite - $3000 Braden Mine, El Teniente, Rancagua, Cachapoal Province, Chile CABINET, 13.4 x 11.3 x 8.7 cm
Maybe there are better, but I do not know of them. This is the largest and best crystallized natural chalcanthite that I have personally seen. It has a huge complete crystal of neon blue, sticking straight up from matrix. It is pristine, dramatic, glows when backlit, and is from an oldtime and romantic locality. Bottom line, though, it is just "pretty!" Chalcanthite is easily synthesized today and grown in labs all around the world for the gift shop and fake rock markets. Chalcanthite forms as postmining or manmade crystals from working copper mines such as in Arizona. It can be bought in the Smithsonian gift shop and grown from powder on the kitchen table. However, aside from the chance that this was postmining (and i do not think it was), my bet is they were not making these in labs and from gift shop chemistry sets back in the early 1900s in Chile. With as many copper mines as we have around, I have not seen any postmining chalcanthite formed from the runoff of human workings, that reaches this magnitude. So i find it unlikely this was formed in that manner, although its a slim outside chance. This is, surely then, natural as the museum itself concluded in the end: certainly one of the most dramatic examples of the species I can imagine. The wooden display label with it indicates exhibition in a case of trophies on return from one of the famous Vaux expeditions of the 1920s, apparently. Note another, clearly post-mining (but naturally made) American chalcanthite of substantial size in this update (PAS-178), as well.
PAS-168 Shortite - $500 Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming (TYPE LOCALITY) CABINET, 12.3 x 7.3 x 7.1 cm
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.
PAS-169 Jarosite - $1250 Huanuni mine, Huanuni, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia CABINET, 13.1 x 9.6 x 7.4 cm
This rich piece has protected vugs all over it with sharp , lustrous crystals of jarosite. One of two extremely rare specimens of jarosite, a complex iron sulfate, from the world's richest cassiterite-mining deposit. This is one of two specimens apparently found together and retrieved during (going by the number system) the 3rd or 4th Vaux expedition to Bolivia in the late 1930s. Comes with original label from the Vaux collection at the Academy.
PAS-170 Jarosite - $ (SOLD) Huanuni mine, Huanuni, Dalence Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia SMALL CABINET, 8.6 x 6.4 x 4.1 cm
This rich piece has protected vugs all over it with sharp , lustrous crystals of jarosite. One of two extremely rare specimens of jarosite, a complex iron sulfate, from the world's richest cassiterite-mining deposit. This is one of two specimens apparently found together and retrieved during (going by the number system) the 3rd or 4th Vaux expedition to Bolivia in the late 1930s. Comes with a color copy of the one original label which came with both pieces, from the Vaux collection at the Academy.
PAS-171 Whitlockite - $200 (ON HOLD) Palermo Mines, Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire CABINET, 10.9 x 8.8 x 7.8 cm
On this large pocket piece of quartz crystals are tiny whitlockites, very gemmy xls to 2mm that look like albite for size and shape...that is why the label says "albite" with a "?". They are miniscule albites, but are very significant, actually, for euhedral whitlockite crystals , particularly for this locality.
PAS-172 Margarite - $2000 (SOLD) Chester Emery Mines, Chester, Hampden Co., Massachusetts CABINET, 13.9 x 12.0 x 8.9 cm
This remarkable specimen features a LARGE display face the size of a big grapefruit covered with upright, platy crystals of margarite. It is extremely RARE for margarite to crystallize anyways and 99% of all margarite from there is massive xline material. Margarite is typically found in either masses of platy crystals, intergrown, or what is typical for the location, veins or veinlets. In general, the thicker the better at this location,with some of the thicker veins of margarite reaching an inch or two, and maintaining a pink color. This one is atypical, since the margarite looks to have formed along a slip face, allowing the 3D growth; the one here is thus a little unusual based on other historic specimens from this locality in East Coast collections (per Jim Chenard, pers. comm.). It also has some diaspore and rutile in association.
PAS-173 Narsarsukite - $100 Whitlash, Liberty Co., Montana SMALL CABINET, 5.6 x 5.4 x 5.1 cm
An interesting locality reference specimen of massive embedded bits in matrix, of this rare species.
PAS-174 Tinticite - $750 Unnamed cave near the mine, Tintic Standard Mine, East Tintic Mts, Utah Co., Utah (TYPE LOCALITY) CABINET, 12.9 x 8.4 x 7.2 cm
Tinticite is an extremely rare iron phosphate, found in only a few spots. Although microcrystalline here, the covering on the matirx is very rich and there is probably more inside - I should probably break it into 50 specimens to sell for thumbnail reference samples to the rarities colelctors, in fact. However, we'll leave it together first (though i think more money can be made by trimming and selling/trading off bits).
Huantaca mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacα Region, Chile CABINET, 9.5 x 5.6 x 5.4 cm
Huantajayite was once a valid species, now shown to be a variety of argentian (silver-rich) halite which leaves a milky-white suspension of AgCl when dissolved in water. However, for a time, it was quite the novelty and this served as the type locality for the valuable rarity. The halite here is embedded in lightweight copper-rich matrix.
PAS-178 Chalcanthite with COPPER replacing Wood - $1500 (SOLD) Rambler Mine, New Rambler District, Albany Co., Wyoming LARGE CABINET, 22.7 x 13.4 x 11.4 cm
The Rambler mine was in its heyday by 1900 or so, and continued for a number of years afterwards to dominate copper production in this region. This particular specimen is the only Chalcanthite of any kind that I have personally seen from the state (and this is the only listed locality likely to have produced such a piece, although the label accompanying just says "chalcanthite - wyoming - natural"). The specimen carries an old label from dealer Gary Hansen. Could it be formed from mine run-off? It DOES have the look of deposition from flowing solution, but this could have formed naturally, as the label says, during flow of water through the mine, completely unrelated to human mining. As with another musuem chalcanthite of large size in this collection, I am disinclined to think these to be manmade fakes - something I would be very suspicious of today from contemporary mining locations. So, which is it? The giveaway is the presence of COPPER-REPLACED wood, embedded in the chalcanthite at the bottom and rear of the specimen. No kidding, if you knock on it with a key or finger, the slender wood timber clinks like metal. The replacement is not 100% complete, as the wood is still somewhat malleable/bendable, but it is far enough along that you can say the copper has replaced much of the wood. So , we have a naturally formed example of chalcanthite, not made on a lab table - but formed postmining from the runoff of the copper-laden waters running over old mine timbers. In any case, it is a huge, beautiful, breathtakingly colorful display specimen!
PAS-179 Datolite - $1200 Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior, Keweenaw Co., Michigan CABINET, 13.9 x 9.4 x 5.5 cm
This is from a National Park and no collecting is allowed TODAY, making it probably one of the few pieces out there in private hands. This is 1069 grams (2.4 pounds or so) of solid, carving-quality material of classic pearl-white datolite from upper Michigan. I have not seen such big chunks around, from other mines I am more familiar with. One imagines most of it was carved or ground up for industrial use. 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. NOTE THIS IS A HANDWRITTEN LABEL IN BEMENT'S OWN HAND (as compared to labels shown in the Mineralogical Record label archive: click here
PAS-180 Antimony - $600 Lac Nicolet mine, South Ham, Wolfe Co., Quιbec, Canada SMALL CABINET, 8.3 x 5.6 x 4.9 cm
This is a significant locality specimen from the early days of an important antimony mine started in the late 1860's. Although it was re-opened in 1940 and later produced some fabulous crystallized antimony in larger sized crystals, this would have been of some significance for the original era of mining there, and remains so now for historic reasons and overall size of the specimen as well. One face has intricate patterning of richly crystallized antimony, in crystals to several mm in size. It is from the noted collection of William Drown, whom according to the Mineralogical Record Archive on him was an umbrella manufacturer who used his fortune to amass a collection of some 6000 mineral specimens. His collection was kept by his family for a generation after his death and then donated in 1918.
PAS-181 Phlogopite - $500 Burgess, Ontario, Canada CABINET, 22.5 x 13.8 x 3.3 cm
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.
PAS-182a Erythrite, Asbolite on Cobaltite Ore - $950 La Blanco Mine (Blanca Mine), Freirina, Huasco Province, Atacama Region, Chile CABINET, 15.0 x 13.0 x 7.0 cm
A beautiful, large matrix specimen with a huge display face covered by sharp, metallic, acicular erythrite crystals. The matrix is HEAVY cobaltite-rich matrix, solid ore, several kilos. According to MINDAT: La Blanco is a small Co-Cu deposit close to the town of Freirina; mined on a small scale in the 19th century (Ref.: Maurizio Dini). It is the most likely source for this specimen because the original museum label (as big as the specimen in real life, so it could sit atop!) gives "San Juan, Chili" as the locality, and because that label also states the presence of "Asbolite." Asbolite is a now-discredited name for a "cobaltian wad" of interlocking acicular erythrite crystals. According to MINDAT, this is the only documented old locality which produced both erythrite and "asbolite." This specimen was given by the eminent researcher in the area, Dr. Domeyko, who sent many study samples to the Academy during its heyday. NOTE THAT BOTH PAS-182A AND PAS-182B WERE NUMBERED 5220 IN THE SAME HAND, AT THE SAME TIME, indicating a common origin of the two specimens, though there is only one label. One assumes pieces were broken off for study on arrival at the museum. 5220 is a VERY early museum number dating to the late 1800s.
PAS-182b Erythrite, Asbolite and Cobaltite - $125 La Blanco Mine (Blanca Mine), Freirina, Huasco Province, Atacama Region, Chile Miniature, 4.3 x 2.8 x 2.8 cm
A miniature-sized specimen with 2 rich areas (one on the side) covered by sharp, metallic, acicular erythrite crystals. According to MINDAT: La Blanco is a small Co-Cu deposit close to the town of Freirina; mined on a small scale in the 19th century (Ref.: Maurizio Dini). It is the most likely source for this specimen because the original museum label (this piece will come with a photocopy of the one belonging to PAS-182a) gives "San Juan, Chili" as the locality, and because that label also states the presence of "Asbolite." Asbolite is a now-discredited name for a "cobaltian wad" of interlocking acicular erythrite crystals. According to MINDAT, this is the only documented old locality which produced both erythrite and "asbolite." This specimen was given by the eminent researcher in the area, Dr. Domeyko, who sent many study samples to the Academy during its heyday. NOTE THAT BOTH PAS-182A AND PAS-182B WERE NUMBERED 5220 IN THE SAME HAND, AT THE SAME TIME, indicating a common origin of the two specimens, though there is only one label. One assumes pieces were broken off for study on arrival at the museum. 5220 is a VERY early museum number dating to the late 1800s .
PAS-186 Tenorite - $ (DONATED) Copper Harbor, Keweenaw County, Michigan LARGE CABINET, 26.3 x 23.9 x 6.0 cm
A massive, basketball-sized hemisphere of heavy metallic Michigan minralization...I have not ever seen quite the like of it before. Courtesy of Dr. George Robinson at the Seaman Museum : The specimen appears to be tenorite, probably from Copper Harbor, Keweenaw County (melaconite is an old name for tenorite). The only other possibility would be from the Algomah mine in Ontonagon Co., but the Copper Harbor material was found as glacial float and is typically rounded over like the piece you describe here. Both locations have minor chrysocolla and malachite associated. The "with paramelaconite?" on the label, however, is a little confusing, since that was known only from the Algomah mine, but as small black pseudomorphic xls on fracture surfaces of angular rock matrices rendered so from the mining process.We have smaller pieces from each occurrence in the collection, but nothing as large as the one in your picture!. Well , they do now...proudly donated to the Seaman Museum.
PAS-187 Chrysocolla in Tyrolite with Clinotyrolite - $2500 San Simon Mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacα Region, Chile CABINET, 14.1 x 8.0 x 7.8 cm
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 stalactitic growths and as a thin carpet in the few hollow vugs inside a literal boulder of nearly solid tyrolite! 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.
PAS-188 Chrysocolla in Tyrolite with Clinotyrolite - $400 San Simon Mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacα Region, Chile Miniature, 4.0 x 2.6 x 2.6 cm
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.
PAS-189 Chrysocolla in Tyrolite with Clinotyrolite - $1250 San Simon Mine, Huantajaya, Iquique Province, Tarapacα Region, Chile CABINET, 15.1 x 9.9 x 7.0 cm
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 inside a literal boulder of nearly solid tyrolite! It is cheaper than the PAS-187 specimen only because the chrysocolla is not as well developed for display quality aesthetics - and yet the tyrolite and other rare minerals here are if anything in greater concentration by weight. 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.
PAS-190 Veszelyite - $900 (SOLD) Ocna de Fier (Vaskφ), Banat, Caras-Severin Co., Romania (TYPE LOCALITY) CABINET, 11.2 x 8.3 x 4.0 cm
This is a large, rather rich specimen from the TYPE LOCALITY. It has numerous crystals to 1mm, in veins on one display face. Other minerals may also be present given the multihued shading. note huge price at the time of the old label!
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