Here you have a dramatic, large, 3-dimensional specimen from a very rare and old find. It looks good from ANY angle and to be honest, I cannot decide which "front" i like better. It is good horizontal, sitting flat; or standing up vertical. The balls of crystals are also VERY large for the material, reminding me well of the famous Pellman specimen from this pocket. The gossan matrix is completely smothered by sparkling balls of botryoidal mimetite. The color is almost a saturated yellow, nearly the best you can get for the locality and considered more desirable than orange-yellow hues. It is brilliantly sparkling in light, and colorful and complete all around 360 degrees. As a bonus, there are little sparkly calcites perched here and there atop the mimetite balls - a very rare association for the pocket and one I have seen only a very few times before. ALL such mimetites as this were collected in a single large find in end of 1968 and start of 1969 by Benny Fenn (right before the Tucson show of that year!), from a one-time pocket at a small prospect. It was literally a small prospect, not even a developing mine, and it never panned out or produced more specimens again. Despite attempts to find another mimetite pocket, no more ever came out. These remain unique in the world for their overall aspect; and large, colorful pieces like this are treasured by those who have them. No other locality has produced mimetite of such aspect to this day. Even at the time, this would have been considered exceptional for its size and all-around aesthetics. Again, from my perspective, the color grade on this is particularly high, making it a choice specimen even among those of us who have seen many over the years. As a bonus, this piece has the history all the way back to when it came out, going through three collections - in reverse order being: Larry Conklin, the late John Marshall, and Karl Vossbrink. Offered now for the first time in over a decade. Joe Budd photos.

A superb specimen from the noted China collection of Dr. Steve Smale, this piece has balance and contrast. It is pristine and complete all around with crystallized calcite on the backside as well as the front. The finely isolated fluorite crystals measure to 4 cm and show amazingly intricate effects of oriented growth patterning in both color (purple zones) and in form (flat vs. stepped faces). The piece is simple in geometry but mesmerizing in complexity. This was probably found in the mid-2000s. For its combination of qualities, I rate it VERY HIGHLY. Joe Budd Photos.

These calcites from Egremont, from England's historic iron district, still set the standard for luster and gemminess over 100 years later. They are brilliantly gemmy - though in photos they look more white than clear. Slight red color at the tips is due to an internal dusting of minute hematite specks. This is a classic "pincushion style" calcite cluster from this most classic of all calcite locales. This piece dates to the late 1800s by style and form; but also can be traced more precisely to prominent importer of British classics George English, in the years 1893-1898 by the address upon the label (see Mineralogical Record's enormously useful label archives to see how such detail can be obtained: http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?page=3&colid=319). Pieces of this size, and in such good condition after 120-150 years out of the ground, are few and far between. This is a treasure, and sparkles like a jewel in person. Joe Budd Photos.

This is a large specimen of a classic style, featuring sharply pointed calcite scalenohedra with internal phantoms due to minute hematite specks, dispersed throughout. The contrasting color is classic and striking, and was once highly treasured for this locality. This piece is aesthetic and 3-dimensional, nearly complete all around with just a few minor dings and one cleaved tip (acceptable, considering the price point and that it is likely from the late 1800s!). Joe Budd Photos.

This is a superb, exceptionally sharp twinned calcite from the famous Leiping Mine (where the more well-known V-twins were found in the late 1990s). This habit is fairly uncommon and usually the crystals are included, off-center, or otherwise marred. This piece is a perfect miniature with symmetry you could only wish for in most calcite specimens. It is gemmy and lustrous, and complete all around. Joe Budd Photos.

Because we see so much more production from Naica, good Fluorite from the Zacatecas area is sometimes confused with material from the much more common locales in Naica, and I have found them on occasion mislabelled as such. This large display piece, however, has a decidedly non-Naica look to it. Naica produces octohedra, but not large purple crystals of this color; and the pagoda-like calcite is distinctive here also. This specimen is complete all around and shows off a great contrast of the small but brilliantly metallic chalcopyrite crystals perched upon the large fluorite octohedra. This is an oldtime specimen, and I have seen only smaller examples of the style for sale before. Ex University of Arizona Mineral Museum collection

A cluster of lustrous, translucent, milky, calcite crystals are cemented by a thin veneer of basalt. The crystals, some of which are doubly terminated, reach 6.0 cm across. These ar ecommon enough in principle, but NOT in such elegant and palm-sized specimens of this quality. Exceptional example from this large deposit!