Legrandite is the Holy Grail of collecting rare species, for many people. Few large matrix specimens exist to be had, and of them, nearly all are in museums or private collections that are not selling anytime soon, now. This dramatic cluster hangs off the matrix, fully exposed and perched on contrasting gossan matrix. It looks good either side up and sideways, too! The cluster is 3.5 cm across. Individual crystals longwise are to 3 cm. These are very large for a matrix legrandite, only rarely surpassed in but a few known specimens for size. This legrandite was in the DeSautels winning case in 1999 (Irv Brown collection of small cab sized specimens), trimmed down from a larger specimen. Because of the color, style, and matrix of the piece, I am fairly certain it came out in the large pocket of 1977 which went through dealer John Whitmire, a specialist in Mapimi. Other legrandite pockets were found, but generally with smaller crystals and a different crystal habit. Few are on the market, or ever will be. This has been locked up in the Stoudt collection since 2004. Joe Budd photos.

This is a VERY rare piece of legrandite from the TYPE LOCALITY for the species: This is NOT Ojuela as most people think, but a small earlier find in Nuevo Leon , a completely different location and geology! This specimen is attractive in that the legrandite is contrasted against white smithsonite (this association is a dead giveaway of its true origin, aside from the unique crystal form and notably radiating habit of the legrandite clusters themselves). Overall, it is a rich piece and one of the best I have seen for sale since I first learned this fact about a decade ago, myself. Who knew?! Well, these can only get rarer with time, even more so than the comparbly plentiful Ojuela Mine material. NOTE: There are more crystals on the backside, as well!

This amazing specimen features THICK, plate-like crystals of lemon-yellow PARADAMITE perched atop a spray of legrandite, itself perched up on matrix. It is an aesthetic example of one of the supreme Mapimi rarities, not found in several decades even though the mine remains open (it was from the bottom levels, which are now flooded). I have seen, in 10 years or so of being cognizant of what the hell i was looking at in this regard, only 2 paradamites for sale. Neither were associated with legrandite as this one is. The back is contacted, but it is eminently displayable from the front or side view.

A superb rarity that also happens to be beautiful and unique in quality to a few small pockets at this location, 30-40 years ago, legrandite is highly desired by collectors today. This is a sharp, very well-terminated cluster of unusually sharp legrandite crystals, from the classic old finds here (late 70s, early 80s). This piece is a very large thumbnail or small miniature, stood upright. It has for decades in the noted world-class thumbnail collection of Jim and Dawn Minette. It was in their competition cases on at least several occasions that i can recall, and still retains the special lucite, labelled display base which they had for some exhibits. Joe Budd Photos.