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RAD08-04 - Billietite with Becquerelite - $750 Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY for both species) thumbnail, 1.9 x 1.7 x 1.4 cm
SHARP, GEMMY crystals of this extremely rare species, textbook in form, to just under 2mm poke out from protected pockets in this small matrix. The billietite are the orange crystals, easily seen and eye-visible in every facert. Becquerelite occurs on this piece as unusually gemmy, transparent yellow crystals underelaying the Billietite. Both species are simply high quality crystals, and stunningly beautiful under a loupe. Although a small piece overall, it is highly significant. TYPE LOCALITY for both species
RAD08-01 - Tyuyamunite and Malachite - $1250 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) small cabinet, 8.9 x 8.7 x 8.1 cm
Beautiful, sharp sub-mm crystals of Tyuyamunite richly cover a carpet of underlaying velvety malachite, making this one of the richest AND most pretty examples of the species I have seen on the market. The display area is 5 x 5 cm, on matrix. Though small by some standards, the crystals are actually rather large and sharp for the species and leap out under a loupe.
RAD08-02 - Soddyite with Swamboite - $850 SOLD Swambo, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 5.7 x 3.7 x 2.0 cm
Superb, textbook quality soddyite crystals to 1 mm perched on matrix of microcrystalline bright yellow soddyite, also with acicular yellow needlelike crystals of swamboite ...a beautiful and significant specimen with exceptional soddyite crystals.
RAD08-03 - Guilleminite on Malachite - $1800 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY) miniature, 4.3 x 4.2 x 3.2 cm
Exceptionally rich specimen featuring lemon-yellow, sub-mm crystals of the rare species Guilleminite , on malachite. TYPE LOCALITY. (Sold now to the Bill Pinch Collection - Bill provided me help in grading and verifying these specimens, for which I am thankful.)
RAD08-05 - Schoepite pseudo. after Rutherfordine - $450 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 3.5 x 3.1 x 2.5 cm
Sharp crystals to 2.5 mm, of lemon-yellow schoepite having replaced sharp bladed ruttherfordine crystals (in itself, that quality is fairly uncommon).
RAD08-06 - Cuprosklodowskite - $6000 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) cabinet, 9.7 x 8.6 x 5.7 cm
A mesmerizing pocket of BRIGHT NEON METALLIC GREEN crystals of needle-like Cuprosklodowskite , shottign into a protected vug! This is CLASSIC material for the mine, but only seldom are nice pockets hit in this day and age. This is an older specimen from the heyday years, featuring larger crystals and slightly deepr color than the few modern specimens which have hit the market in the last decade or so from 2 or 3 finds. There is simply nothign else in the mineral world as vibrantly green as one of these "hot" specimens....
RAD08-07 - Soddyite with Swamboite - $1200 SOLD Swambo, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.2 x 3.0 x 2.2 cm
Superb, textbook-quality soddyite crystals to just about 1 mm perched on matrix of microcrystalline bright yellow soddyite and some minute acicular yellow needlelike crystals of swamboite...a beautiful and significant specimen with exceptional soddyite crystals.
RAD08-08 - Becquerelite with Masuyite, Fourmarierite and Uranophane - $2750 SOLD Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY for 3 species) small cabinet, 6.2 x 5.8 x 3.1 cm
This large, rich specimen has THREE species for which this is the type locality: Masuyite (in red spherical aggregates), Fourmarierite (dark red/umber crystals underlaying the BQ and embedded in the matrix), and superb, large sprays of Becquerelite with crystals to a whopping 5mm . The matrix is uraninite. Many are freestanding! In person, this is a beautiful specimen worthy of a display shelf, but its also an important combinatorial piece.
RAD08-09 - Vandenbrandeite on Cuprosklodowskite - $1250 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) cabinet, 12.2 x 8.2 x 6.1 cm
Vandenbrandeite usually occurs as microcrystalline druses , but here we have a large cluster measuring approx 1.7 x 1.5 cm, with eye-visible crystals to 6 or 7 mm in size in a rich aggregate. The association on the bright neon-green Cuprosklodowskite is gorgeous. A significant concentration of this rarity, and beautiful as a specimen overall.
RAD08-10 - Kamotoite and Astrocyanite with Uranophane on Uraninite - $1750 SOLD Kamoto East Open cut, Kamoto, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY for both species) miniature, 5.8 x 4.7 x 3.8 cm
TYPE LOCALITY material of these VERY rare species! The kamotoite are the vibrant yellow crystalline sprays with individual flat-laying crystals to 6 or 7 mm, accented by microcrystalline uranophane around their periphery and by a small bit of subcrystalline Astrocyanite (blue). Aesthetic, rich specimen, of some significance. TYPE LOCALITY for both Kamotoite and Astrocyanite
RAD08-11 - Ludjibaite - $500 SOLD Ludjiba Mts, Shinkolobwe, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY) miniature, 3.6 x 1.6 x 1.2 cm
Ludjibaite is a rare copper phosphate, that is NOT radioactive but occurs rarely in this suite of species here. This specimen, though small, could be considered fairly rich in the material with bright microcrystalline growth over its surface. The more blue-green crystals are the ludjibaite. This is rare type-locality material.
RAD08-12 - Francevillite with Curienite - $900 SOLD Mounana Mine (Mouana Mine), Franceville, Haut-Ogooué, Gabon (TYPE LOCALITY for both species) small cabinet, 7.7 x 6.4 x 3.7 cm
A solid, rich specimen that is almost entirely covered on the display face, with beautiful orange Francevillite accented by yellow curienite. Rich, pretty, and fiery in color - this is a rather showy large piece! TYPE LOCALITY for both species
RAD08-13 - Astrocyanite on Kamotoite - $2400 SOLD Kamoto East Open cut, Kamoto, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY for both species) miniature, 5.3 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm
From the TYPE LOCALITY for both species, this is a superb display piece with eye-visible flat-laying kamotoite crystals to 5mm or so, amidst other species including ultra-rare Astrocyanite (blue) with bubbly Uranophane around the periphery. I was told by the previous owner, a geologist specializing in the mines of this region, that so far as he knew under 30 specimens of this species were known. Bill Pinch, who reviewed this update, informed me that while the blue smear-like material is rare enough and quite rich for the species, the denser, darker-green microcrystalline material near the bottom of the piece as shown is actually the best and rarest quality of the species.
RAD08-14 - Schoepite on Cuprosklodowskite - $300 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.9 x 4.7 x 3.1 cm
Sharp, flattenned crystals of schoepite to 3 or 4mm, perched on contrasting matrix..with admittedly some damage but also a few good crystals about, as well. An excellent reference sample of this rare species.
RAD08-15 - Cuprosklodowskite with Guilleminite - $8500 ON HOLD Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) cabinet, 12 x 8 x 6 cm
Cuprosklodowskite is a classic, highly desirable, and bluntly beautiful species we all know and love in its typical form as elongated acicular crystals from the classic finds here. However, I am told that once in the 1970s this mine produced these incredible "puffballs" of radial Cuprosklodowskite clusters to about 1 cm, dusted with yellow Guilleminite. I had only seen one such piece before, and here is the second I have ever had the thrill of seeing. The aesthetics of this style are really mesmerizing in preson, and the photos just do not capture the depth of color and dimension it presents. It is one of the most visually stunning pieces I have had, I will say. The pocket has protected these fragile crystals from damage, and so the condition is simply incredible, given this lucky feature. All Content and Design ©1996-2008 The Arkenstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
