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Mineral Specimens with Gypsum
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Selenites are common, but not old German ones! This one is not only quite gemmy, but has a fascinating and pretty tapered form with "shelves" along the sides. 9.0 x 4.3 x 2.2cm
Lustrous, indigo-blue boleite cubes to 5 mm are aesthetically sprinkled on the stabilized clay matrix, which is enhanced by atacamite and gypsum. This piece hails from the famous Amelia Mine of Baja California Sur and was collected in the venture by Bill Larson and Ed Swoboda in the mid 1970s. 4.2 x 3.1 x 2.0 cm
An EXCELLENT and VERY UNCOMMON specimen from the Wessels Mine of South Africa of acicular inesite enclosed in a water-clear gypsum cleavage fragment, which has several well-developed faces. The back of the piece has a real bonus. Gemmy apophyllite crystals are nestled in milky and water-clear quartz crystals. 4.2 x 3.6 x 2.0 cm
Two razor-sharp, glass-clear crystals of gypsum perched dramatically atop the matrix! You can look right through them as if through water! 7.6 x 5.5 x 4.7cm
I am not sure what the inclusion is that turns the gypsum from this locality this beautiful light green (probably copper); at any rate, it looks like a carpet of beautiful spring grass! 8.5 x 7.4 x 1.8cm
A LARGE floater ball of gemmy, golden selenite twinned crystals. The large crystal you see measures over 3 cm in either direction! These are dug out of the clay layers of an ancient river bed, near Winnipeg. 12.2 x 8.1 x 6.8cm
This is definitely a weird specimen. It features a combination matrix of manganese ore and spongy, pink, rhodochrosite. A crystal of gemmy, colorless gypsum has filled the small open space in a cavity of the matrix. Sitting on the gypsum and partially included within are rhombs of pink rhodochrosite, to 2.0 cm across, that then have a very thin rim of tan siderite enclosing them. The rhodos have been slightly contacted, otherwise this piece would be priced a lot higher. This was part of a well-known specimen in teh collection of Gerald Herfurth, a noted Colorado collector. 7.6 x 6.5 x 6.2 cm
A tall, gemmy, spectacular crystal of selenite from Naica! It is just GLASS-CLEAR, with VERY minor wear compared to what you normally see on these super-soft specimens (2 on the Mohs scale). Fabulous termination and sharp faces; non-mineral collectors can hardly believe these grow naturally. 22.6 x 2.6 x 1.6cm
This is a complete, gemmy floater crystal of gypsum from Canada, and the label mentions a "Fluorescent hourglass zone" - meaning that apparently there is an inclusion or growth anomaly inside that glows under UV. At any rate, it is a fine, sharp crystal! 5.7 x 2.7 x 2.4cm
A lone, gemmy, sharply terminated crystal of selenite juts dramatically from a bed of euhedral calcites! The specimen looks great from all sides. NEVER see them on calcite matrix! 7.1 x 5.4 x 4.9cm
An EXCELLENT and VERY SHOWY specimen of lustrous, black goethite pseudomorphing selenite crystals from Santa Eulalia, Mexico. This very fine piece was in the Dr. Gary Hansen Collection and is old, choice material. VERY RARE in such qualitya nd with real lustre! 8.5 x 6.5 x 4.2 cm
The big selenite crystal you are looking at is so clear that you see right through it to the chrysocolla inclusions inside! This is a razor-sharp crystal on a superbly-trimmed matrix. It is difficult to see the form of the crystal from the pic, since it is so clear . .but it is not thin – it is a flattened rhombohedron, leaning back on the matrix. Better in person, really DRAMATIC, in person and you will love this piece – guaranteed! 9 x 6 x 5 cm
A showy, nearly transparent, colorless, highly unusual and nearly pristine arrowhead twin gypsum crystal from the famous Lake Gilles of South Australia, Australia. This variety is considered to be an extension of the simple swallowtail twin form. A couple of trivial edge bruises certainly do not detract from this strange-looking specimen, whick is partially hollow. The "seed" of the crystal can be seen within. See the Mineralogical Record article in the May-June, 1982 issue, Vol. 13, No. 3. Ex Marty Lewadny Collection of Winnipeg, Canada. 6.9 x 6.8 x 4.4 cm
A very lustrous, tan, matrix is the host for rosettes and elongated, lustrous, crystals of gypsum, to 1.5 cm across which have been included by malachite, giving the gypsum a pastel, emerald green color. To top this off, there are a few crystal druses of deep blue azurite on the matrix. Beautiful! 5.6 x 5.3 x 3.2 cm
Gypsum crystals are not given the respect they deserve, but truly, the best ones are amongst the most dramatic crystals you could ever want to see: water-clear and sharp as razors. This is certainly an example of a superb specimen! 5.8 x 5.2 x 4.8 cm
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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