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Wow! Who would ever have imagined a black mineral would be so sharp, attractive, and desirable. This crystal is razor sharp with a superb luster and form. Habits outside of the octahedral/dodecahedral family are rare, so this modified isometric crystal is even more of a "gem".
ex. Charlie Key
Who knew?! I had never hear dof anything from this mine except a few strangely formed rhodos, til Charlie's Collection surfaced. He has a whole suite of weird sulfide combinations from this locality, for example this one featuring SHARP alpine-quality magnetite in contrasting chalcopyrite matrix. The largest magnetite is 2 cm across! This is the best matrix specimen out of the whole lot of about 2 flats, which he had acucmulated over the years from a worker at the mine.
ex. Charlie Key
These incredibly lustrous, sharp magnetites shocked people when they first came out in the 90s, from this working zinc mine. This is from the best pocket hit, in 1992, with big fat lustrous crystals! If you sit and look at them, you quickly see an incredible complexity of surface faces, curved outgrowths of the cubic form upon what seemed from afar like simply flat faces. This is a very aesthetic cluster, with 3-dimensional form and super lustre. These are not "black rocks", but rather minerals with such jet-black and LUSTROUS surface that its almost OK to call them colorful. An American classic, now,and hard to obtain in this quality. The piece is really hard to photo - it is better in person. There is damage or contact on either side of the main display face, but it can be displayed with the predominant crystal showing nicely, above it all. Its really a very good piece, just hard to convey this in writing and photos.
ex. Martin Lewadny
Superb, well-defined set of gunmetal-silver Magnetite crystals on matrix. Typically the Magnetite specimens from this locality are closely grown together, but this one has exceptional definition and eye-appeal. The lustre is better than most, as well. The overall quality is excellent, with large, razor sharp, lustrous, silver-black, "Alpine-type" octahedra on matrix with associated small, blocky white Feldspar crystals. The large Magnetite crystal measures an incredible 1.8 cm on edge. Frankly, this is among the best Bolivian Magnetite crystals I have seen, qualitywise, in any size; and these rate highly among all Magnetites, period, at a fraction of the price a crystal might cost from more historic locales. With simple, clean aesthetics, it is a fabulous thumbnail. ex Brian Kosnar collection
ex. Martin Lewadny
Large and very sharp modified octahedron of Magnetite intergrown with smaller Magnetites, white Calcite and Mica. The large 2.3 cm Magnetite has a stunning mirror-like luster and a well-defined habit. There is some contacting along the back and one edge, but it does not affect the presentation side of this excellent miniature. BETTER IN PERSON!
14.6 x 12.0 x 2.5 cm. A very large plate of razor-sharp magnetite crystals, with shiny gunmetal gray luster, measuring to 0.8 cm on edge. They are usually wall-to-wall on these specimens, but this one features isolation of the crystals with matrix peeking through, so it is extra attractive. There are usually areas of corroded or broken crystals on these, but this specimen has very few missing crystals and no corrosion.
These incredibly lustrous, sharp magnetites shocked people when they first came out in the 90s, from this working zinc mine. This is from the best pocket hit, in 1992, with big fat lustrous crystals! If you sit and look at them, you quickly see an incredible complexity of surface faces, curved outgrowths of the cubic form upon what seemed from afar like simply flat faces. This is a very aesthetic cluster, with 3-dimensional form and super lustre. These are not "black rocks", but rather minerals with such jet-black and LUSTROUS surface that its almost OK to call them colorful. An American classic, now,and hard to obtain in this quality. The piece is really hard to photo - it is better in person. There is damage or contact on either side of the main display face, but it can be displayed with the predominant crystal showing nicely, above it all. Its really a very good piece, just hard to convey this in writing and photos. 4.2 x 3.3 x 3.1 cm
19.2 x 10.0 x 3.8 cm. A BIG, impressive plate covered with sharp, lustrous magnetite crystals with gunmetal luster, measuring to over one centimeter along the edge. As with almost all of these, there are some areas of missing crystals, but in general this dazzling specimen is in fine shape!
6 x 5.8 x 2.6 cm. A recent batch of magnetite specimens from Bolivia was exceptional in the size of the crystals, their sharpness and luster, and the absence of the typical corroded, oxidized crystals that can sometimes detract. These crystals measure to over 1 cm on edge, 1.5 cm tip-to-tip.
6.3 x 4.0 x 3.3 cm. An OLD-TIME and CLASSIC combination piece from the long-closed Tilly Foster Mine of New York of sharp, lustrous, rust-brown chondrodite crystals to 1.2 cm with black, microcrystalline magnetite crystals on nicely contrasting beige matrix. This is a highly representative and showy piece from this famous iron mine (magnetite ore), that closed in 1897! Ex George Elling Collection.
16.2 x 8.8 x 5.5 cm. Fabulous, razor-sharp crystals of magnetite, to over 1 cm, are all over this BIG specimen from Bolivia! The crystals are isolated on the matrix, which gives this specimen a real distinction from the usual specimen with crystals massed together. The other thing you do not see on this specimen is the usual number of corroded or damaged crystals - these are almost all complete and in fine shape. Great-looking gunmetal luster, too.
8.0 x 4.8 x 2.7 cm. Typically the Magnetite specimens from this locality are closely grown together, but this piece has great isolation between the crystals. These are also some of the finest quality crystals I’ve seen from this locality in a few years. The piece has excellent quality, good size, razor sharp, lustrous, black, metallic, "Alpine-type" octahedra associated with blocky, cream colored Feldspar crystals on matrix. The largest Magnetite crystal measures 1.2 cm. across, which is good size for the locality. This is one of the better quality specimens of this material that I’ve seen from this locality, and most of the crystals are undamaged. Keep in mind, that there are no other localities producing Magnetites of this quality today, and there are few localities in the world that have ever produced Magnetite like this. Though this species is well known to collectors, it is remarkably difficult to obtain such well crystallized, highly displayable cabinet-sized specimens as this one.
5.0 x 4.5 x 2.2 cm. The fine specimens of magnetite from Bolivia have overshadowed specimens from other localities lately, but you still occasionally see good specimens from other localities turn up on the market from old collections - such as this one from Mexico. The crystals are quite sharp, with minimal damage, to 1.5 cm across.
5.4 x 2.9 x 2.1 cm. These have to be some of the most interesting and pretty pseudomorphs in the mineral kingdom - though much better in person than in the pics. What you have is a magnetite crystal that has been pseudomorphed by sparkly magnetite - with skeletal "wings" with pronounced ribs on either side of the central spine. This is a really sharp and aesthetic one, beautifully balanced!
6.3 x 5.4 x 2.8 cm. A wonderfully ornate pseudomorph from Argentina! This is a familiar pseudomorph type from this locality, the hematite having replaced sharp crystals of magnetite, the form of which are easily visible. This one formed a number of separate "towers", and is really unique!
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share specimen![Magnetite (unusual form) from Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/pics/4jg32a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg32a.jpg)
![Magnetite (unusual form) from Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/pics/4jg32b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg32b.jpg)
![Magnetite (unusual form) from Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/pics/4jg32c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg32c.jpg)
![Magnetite (unusual form) from Serro, Minas Gerais, Brazil [db_pics/pics/4jg32d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/4jg32d.jpg)
![MAGNETITE in Chalcopyrite from Aggenys Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa [db_pics/pics/cktsr-10a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/cktsr-10a.jpg)
![MAGNETITE in Chalcopyrite from Aggenys Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa [db_pics/pics/cktsr-10b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/cktsr-10b.jpg)
![MAGNETITE in Chalcopyrite from Aggenys Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa [db_pics/pics/cktsr-10c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/cktsr-10c.jpg)
![Magnetite from ZCA Mine, 2500 foot Level, Balmat, New York (1992) [db_pics/pics/k326a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/k326a.jpg)
![Magnetite from ZCA Mine, 2500 foot Level, Balmat, New York (1992) [db_pics/pics/k326b.jpg]](db_pics/pics/k326b.jpg)
![Magnetite from ZCA Mine, 2500 foot Level, Balmat, New York (1992) [db_pics/pics/k326c.jpg]](db_pics/pics/k326c.jpg)
![Magnetite from ZCA Mine, 2500 foot Level, Balmat, New York (1992) [db_pics/pics/k326d.jpg]](db_pics/pics/k326d.jpg)
![Magnetite on Microcline from Cerro Huanaquino, Potosí Department, Bolivia [db_pics/new2010/LTH60A.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH60A.JPG)
![Magnetite on Microcline from Cerro Huanaquino, Potosí Department, Bolivia [db_pics/new2010/LTH60B.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH60B.JPG)
![Magnetite on Microcline from Cerro Huanaquino, Potosí Department, Bolivia [db_pics/new2010/LTH60C.JPG]](db_pics/new2010/LTH60C.JPG)
![Magnetite from Iron Mine, Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia [db_pics/pics/lw31a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/lw31a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-114113a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-114113a.jpg)
![Magnetite from ZCA Mine No. 4 (St Joe Mine; ZCA No. 4 mine), Balmat, Balmat-Edwards Zinc District, St Lawrence Co., New York, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-114171a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-114171a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-114528a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-114528a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-118736a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-118736a.jpg)
![Chondrodite, Magnetite from Tilly Foster mine, Brewster, Putnam Co., New York, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-120397a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-120397a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-122830a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-122830a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-122830b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-122830b.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-130895a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-130895a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro Huañaquino, Potosà Department, Bolivia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-130895b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-130895b.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro de Mercado Mine, Victoria de Durango, Cerro de los Remedios, Mun. de Durango, Durango, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-131586a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-131586a.jpg)
![Magnetite from Cerro de Mercado Mine, Victoria de Durango, Cerro de los Remedios, Mun. de Durango, Durango, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-131586b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-131586b.jpg)
![Hematite, Magnetite from Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina [db_pics/mdpics/MD-137557a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-137557a.jpg)
![Hematite, Magnetite from Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina [db_pics/mdpics/MD-142226a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-142226a.jpg)
![Hematite, Magnetite from Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina [db_pics/mdpics/MD-142226b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-142226b.jpg)