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31edd103d - Dioptase on Plancheite - SOLD Pimbi, D’joue River, The Republic of Congo cabinet, 15.3 x 14.2 x 3.2 cm ex. Dr. Edward David
This is a huge plate of matrix-bound dioptase crystals perched on contrasting matrix of rolling blue plancheite (and in itself a fabulously rich specimen for this species!). This is classic material found here about 15 years ago, although seldom seen in specimens so large and showy. The crystals here reach fully 2 cm in size, many of them doubly terminated. Most are pristine, though a few have minor damage, insignificant in context. Part of the reason large plates from this lcoality are so rare is that they form upon crusts inside cavities in the rock, and generally these are small and tight pockets. Hence, large pieces like this are difficult to get out. This piece is not repaired, but it has been stabilized with glue on the backside to ensure it stays together, once it was removed from the rock matrix behind it. For the price, you seldom get so much dioptase bang for the buck (certainly not from Tsumeb!), and these crystals in form plus overall matrix appearance are so very different from anything you see from Tsumeb. I like knowing that, for the price, you can get among the best of this locality for the cost of a frankly mediocre large Tsumeb specimen...that translates to a much more significant rock fo ryour money invested, a good quality !
D06-34 - Plancheite (and Chrysocolla?) pseudo. after Calcite on Dioptase - $ 950 SOLD Tantara, Katanga, Republic of the Congo miniature, 5.6 x 5.3 x 4.7 cm ex. Edward Swoboda
WOW! This is a very rare specimen! These were found in the early 1980s, and the specimen consists of small calcite crystals on dioptase, that were completely replaced by the copper mineral plancheite and turned a rich blue in color. This is only at ONE end of the piece. AT THE OTHER END, the calcites have been replaced by chrysocolla, I think; or at least so heavily coated one cannot tell and its a moot point visually. This is a very interesting, colorful, and fun specimen from the prominent pseudomorph collection of Ed Swoboda (see MinRec nov/dec 1997). He sold to Carter Rich in 1999, who sold this to George Loud right after, and it now is coming back to the market.
MD-104089 - Dioptase, Plancheite - - Archived 'Mbumba, Pimbi hill, Sanda, Mindouli, Pool Region, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) large cabinet, 15.3 x 14.2 x 3.2 cm
This is a huge plate of matrix-bound dioptase crystals perched on contrasting matrix of rolling blue plancheite (and in itself a fabulously rich specimen for this species!). This is classic material found here about 15 years ago, although seldom seen in specimens so large and showy. The crystals here reach fully 2 cm in size, many of them doubly terminated. Most are pristine, though a few have minor damage, insignificant in context. Part of the reason large plates from this lcoality are so rare is that they form upon crusts inside cavities in the rock, and generally these are small and tight pockets. Hence, large pieces like this are difficult to get out. This piece is not repaired, but it has been stabilized with glue on the backside to ensure it stays together, once it was removed from the rock matrix behind it. For the price, you seldom get so much dioptase bang for the buck (certainly not from Tsumeb!), and these crystals in form plus overall matrix appearance are so very different from anything you see from Tsumeb. I like knowing that, for the price, you can get among the best of this locality for the cost of a frankly mediocre large Tsumeb specimen...that translates to a much more significant rock fo ryour money invested, a good quality ! 15.3 x 14.2 x 3.2 cm
MD-117514 - Plancheite - - Archived Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.2 x 3.3 x 3 cm.
4.2 x 3.3 x 3 cm. Exquisite specimen of Plancheite on specular hematite and quartz. The radial growth of the Plancheite forms lovely blue spheres larger than any I have ever seen - the largest here being a full 1 cm across! The robin’s egg of the species. There is even a nice cluster of three smaller spheres tucked away in a vug on the opposite side.
MD-120827 - Dioptase, Malachite, Plancheite - - Archived Omaue Mine, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8 x 7 x 2.7 cm.
8 x 7 x 2.7 cm. Exquisite combination piece of Dioptase on Malachite, all over a lovely blue bed of Planceite. The Dioptase, several of which reach 1 cm, have superb color and excellent luster.
MD-121388 - Willemite, Plancheite - - Archived Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia small cabinet, 5.9 x 3.3 x 3.2 cm.
5.9 x 3.3 x 3.2 cm. Willemite is a rare mineral in finely crystallized specimens and there are only a few localities in the world that produce great display specimens. I think the two top localities for Willemite in the world are Franklin, New Jersey and of course, Tsumeb. The Willemite specimens from Tsumeb are highly prized for their wide range of colors and amazing beauty. This specimen features excellent, rare, sharp, lustrous, somewhat spherical, green-blue color, crystal aggregates of Willemite associated with minor Plancheite on matrix. It has beautiful luster and these specimens are among some of the most classic of species from Tsumeb. Ex. Richard Kosnar Collection.
MD-131661 - Dioptase, Baryte, Plancheite - - Archived Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia miniature, 3.8 x 3.1 x 1.4 cm.
3.8 x 3.1 x 1.4 cm. A great dioptase specimen with a bit of a surprise on it. I could not believe it, but this seems to be a little orange barite perched atop! Never seen the combo! The central dioptase is 1.3 cm and pristine. The one on the edge is larger, but incomplete at its edge. Ex. Charlie Key Collection.
MD-131672 - Dioptase, Plancheite - - Archived Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia small cabinet, 8.7 x 7.2 x 4.2 cm.
8.7 x 7.2 x 4.2 cm. This specimen features SHARP, unusually isolated dioptase crystals to 1.5 cm. Interestingly they are perched/embedded inside a thick nodule of massive plancheite, making for a neat contrast. Ex. Charlie Key Collection.
MD-135191 - Plancheite, Cuprite - - Archived M'sesa deposit, Kambove, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) thumbnail, 1.7 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm.
1.7 x 1.1 x 0.6 cm. A showy and excellent thumbnail of lustrous, stacked, pastel-green to blue plancheite pseudomorphing sharp cuprite crystals from the less well-known M’sesa deposit of Zaire. This open-pit mine closed in the 1970s, so this is old and choice material, seldom available. Ex. Dick Jones Collection.
MD-140466 - Dioptase, Plancheite - - Archived Brazzaville (Renéville; Djoué), Brazzaville Department (Renéville Department), Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) miniature, 3.3 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm.
3.3 x 2.0 x 1.8 cm. An old-time, showy and excellent combination toenail of deep, emerald-green dioptase crystals nicely accented by pastel blue-green plancheite botryoids from Reneville, Republic of the Congo. This piece was undoubtedly collected in the 1950s and this locality is now extinct. I like the pointed ends, covered with gemmy dioptase crystals. Ex. Jack Halpern Collection #2516.
MD-145140 - Azurite, Plancheite - - Archived Milpillas Mine, Cuitaca, Mun. de Cananea, Sonora, Mexico cabinet, 11.6 x 6.5 x 3.0 cm.
11.6 x 6.5 x 3.0 cm. This beautiful blue-on-blue specimen is the only such piece I have seen. It features a 2.7-cm "rose" of deepest blue azurite (but blue, not black!), perched atop a matrix coated with various copper minerals (presumably chrysocolla and more azurite). To the right, is a "velvet" drapery of brilliant light blue plancheite (pers comm. analytical result), on which sets a sharp 1 cm azurite crystal. The piece hasn't been cleaned harshly, which might remove some of the swirling colors of the chrysocolla coating. This is a dramatic specimen, and quite unusual for Mexico and seemingly for this find.
MD-152687 - Dioptase, Plancheite - - Archived Brazzaville (Renéville; Djoué), Brazzaville Department (Renéville Department), Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) small cabinet, 7.0 x 5.4 x 3.4 cm.
7.0 x 5.4 x 3.4 cm. An aesthetic specimen of a rich cluster of very gemmy and lustrous, dark emerald-green dioptase crystals jauntily perched atop a banded plancheite-covered matrix from the classic Congo locality of Reneville. The largest crystal is 1.2 cm and all of the major crystals are undamaged. A bit of scattered edge wear is certainly not a detraction on this old-timer. Ex. Brent Lockhart Collection.
MD-154638 - Plancheite, Azurite - - Archived Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia miniature, 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.4 cm.
4.5 x 3.5 x 2.4 cm. An extremely rare and showy Tsumeb pseudomorph of sparkly, greenish-gray dolomite over plancheite pseudomorphing a sharp, 2.9 cm, flattened azurite crystal. The crystal is nicely placed on plancheite-covered matrix. The bit of periphery damage is certainly not a detraction. An OLD specimen, very seldom on the market in this quality. Ex. George Elling Collection.
MD-160379 - Cuprite, Plancheite - - Archived Kamoto Principal Mine (Kamoto Fond Mine; Kamoto Mine), Kamoto, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.3 x 2.7 x 2.6 cm.
4.3 x 2.7 x 2.6 cm. A super-sharp, GEM, blood-red cuprite crystal aesthetically set on powder-blue plancheite-covered matrix on this excellent and showy specimen from the famous Kamoto Mine of Zaire. Cuprite is not well-known from the Kamoto Mine, so this is an outstanding piece for the species and locality. The 1.3 cm cuprite has textbook octahedral form and the super-trivial edge wear is barely noticeable and is certainly not a detraction to this classic material. Ex. H. Westenburger Collection.
MD-187683 - Plancheite, Chrysocolla - - Archived Kambove, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.3 x 3.9 x 3.3 cm.
4.3 x 3.9 x 3.3 cm. Plancheite is a rare copper silicate. This is a superb specimen with spherical forms constituted by radiating acicular growths with a deep blue color, aesthetically set in chrysocolla.
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