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ch10 - Stibiotantalite - $2400 SOLD Himalaya Mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California thumbnail, 3.2 x 2.1 x 0.6 cm ex. Chuck Houser
This perfect, equant, textbook-quality crystal is a VERY SIGNIFICANT example of this rare species for San Diego, of which few better exist. I recall the handwringing it caused when Chuck traded this from Irv Brown in the mid-1990s. By any standard, this is a beautiful example of the species from any US locale.
ch01 - Morganite on Quartz - $2500 SOLD Elizabeth R Mine, San Diego County, California cabinet, 15.1 x 11.0 x 7.5 cm ex. Chuck Houser
This specimen features a dramatic 3 x 2 inch morganite hanging off the side of a smoky quartz. association pieces, and good morganite of any kind for that matter, is uncommon in San Diego except for the famous White Queen Mine (and even there, not THAT cmmon)! The morganite is complete on the front, contacted and partially recrystallized on the back. Morganite from County is usually rather etched, as well. But, not this one. A remarkable display specimen found by Roland Reed and passed on to Chuck in the 1990s.
ch03 - Spessartine Garnet, Albite on Microcline Feldspar - $750 SOLD Pack Rat Mine, San Diego County, California cabinet, 17.5 x 13.2 x 4.6 cm ex. Chuck Houser
A huge matrix plate of beautiful white albite just sprinkled with lovely, wine-red garnets! Unusual for the county, especially to get such a large plate with all the geologic disruption here! "This was collected 1986/87 by
ch04 - Quartz (huge San Diego piece!) - $450 Elizabeth R Mine, San Diego County, California cabinet, 21.5 x 18.5 x 9.2 cm ex. Chuck Houser
Well, its really, really big....a good US quartz from anywhere but again, extremely unusual for a San Diego specimen with all the geologic disruption here!
ch07 - Schorl and Quartz in Albite - $450 SOLD Naylor Rock, Pala, San Diego County, California cabinet, 9.9 x 9.1 x 4.7 cm ex. Chuck Houser
A beautiful combination piece, from this small locality which is considered highly desirable among SD County collectors.
ch08 - Strengite - $250 SOLD Stewart Mine, Pala, San Diego County, California miniature, 5.8 x 5.3 x 4.5 cm ex. Chuck Houser
An unusual and actually pretty example, very rich for the County, of this phosphate!
ch09 - Muscovite pseudo. Tourmaline - $300 SOLD French Pete Mine, near Warner Springs, San Diego County, California small cabinet, 6.9 x 5.2 x 3.8 cm ex. Chuck Houser
Self-collected by Chuck while climbing the steep tailings on the south side of the mountain the French Pete is located on top of,this is a very unusual specimen!
ch11 - Elbaite - $950 SOLD Little Three Mine, Ramona, San Diego County, California miniature, 5.0 x 1.0 x 0.7 cm ex. Chuck Houser ex. John Sinkankas
An exceptionally rare tourmaline "pencil" of gem quality from the Little 3 Mine, which while known for garnet is NOT really known for producing good tourmalines. This would be considered an unbelieveably gemmy and fine example! It was obtained from the late John Sinkankas by collector Irv Brown 10 years ago, and later sold to Chris Korpi by Brown. I got Chris' collectiona nd sold it to Chuck at the time. There is a brightness to the crystal that is not conveyed well in the photo, although you CAN see how sharp and fine the termination is.
ch12 - Quartz with Hambergite inclusion - $150 Little Three Mine, Ramona, San Diego County, California miniature, 4.6 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm ex. Chuck Houser
An unusual piece with a sharp linear inclusion of a hambergite crystal, floating there inside the terminated quartz!
ch13 - Tourmaline on Quartz - $1750 Naylor Rock, Pala, San Diego County, California small cabinet, 9 x 3.6 x 2.8 cm ex. Chuck Houser
A very rare MATRIX specimen from the famous Naylor Rock locality for indicolite! There is one very clean repair at the base of the large tourmaline on top (I only know because Chuck says so - I did not catch it, its so clean, otherwise). Few matrix specimens from here have been found over the years, and they are highly treasured by County collectors who trade them amongst themselves like Mickey Mantles.
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