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Mineral Specimens with Rhodonite
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A GORGEOUS vug of lustrous, transparent, red rhodonite blades on matrix from the 1988 find at the Chiurucu Prospect in Peru. The periphery damage is certainly not detracting from this marvelous piece. A bit of judicious trimming could turn this into a very fine specimen. 6.8 x 5.0 x 4.6 cm
A lustrous, sharp, partially gemmy, coffee-brown rhodonite crystal attached to galena from the famous Broken Hill Mine of Austrialia. Classic, old material. Ex Marty Lewadny Collection. 4.2 x 3.8 x 2.2 cm
A 2.3 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm crystal of GEM rhodonite, perched in contrasting galena matrix! GEMMY rhodonite crystals, of this magnitude, are SO rare! I am told this came out in the 1940s. The crystal is complete, and fully terminated (though as is typical, the termination is a bit rounded by nature). I have seen in 2 decades only 3 specimens of this calibre for sale. It is not about size, but about the beauty and quality of this gem crystal....this is a RARE treasure! I was shocked when i saw it available. 4.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 cm
Rhodonite associated with sharp black crystals of bannisterite and galena. The major crystal here is 2 cm, and doubly-terminated. 3.4 x 2.7 x 2.3 cm
A beautiful toenail of sprays of partially gemmy, rose-pink rhodonite blades from the 1990s find at the Chiurucu Prospect in Peru. Ex Sam Nasser Collection. 3.3 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm
This is a very rare example of mn-axinite from a small find in the mine in the 1990s. It is considered to be an extremely rich example, for what it is, and I have not even seen another for sale! And, moreover, it happens to be quite attractive . 3.7 x 3.0 x 1.9 cm
ex. Dr. Mark Feinglos
This is a very rare example of mn-axinite from a small find in the mine in the 1990s. It is considered to be an extremely rich example, for what it is, and I have not even seen another for sale! And, moreover, it happens to be quite attractive .
ex. Martin Zinn
Rare, sharp crystals of the axinite group species manganaxinite to 4mm , perched on minutely crystallized rhodonite with quartz. Beautiful combination piece.
A superb and colorful specimen with unusually good aesthetics for this material - most from the find are rather more jumbly and as they grew in thick aggregates along the pocket wall many have peripheral contact damage that detracts. This one, with its roseate form, has great 3-dimensionality that enhances the color and the sharp bladed form of the crystals. This is from the a small pocket hit in 1991, which to this day remains the standard for quality from the locality despite subsequent finds in the late 1990s of much smaller, less robust, less well crystallized, and less colorful crystals. Many people consider these, along with the Australian rhodonites of gem quality and different form, to be the best in the world for the species. These great rhodonites came out ONCE in all the time mining has gone on for specimens in Peru, as a second find around 1998 paled in consequence. Few will be on the market now, as they can only come as collections are recycled. It is truly one of the most collectible and colorful of Peruvian minerals as mentioned in a recent column of CONNOSSIEUR'S CHOICE where this particular specimen was illustrated as well; but more than that is just a damned impressive rhodonite from ANY locale.
A smashing miniature that leaps off the shelf and glows red at you, from a distance. It has one of the most lustrous faces and sharp , 3-dimensional crystals I have yet seen from this important find, certainly the finest rhodonite crystals overall since Broken Hill produced a small number of gem crystals in the early 1900s. The major crystal is 3.1 cm across, and has a bevelled termination that curves back. You can see INTO the front face at least 5-6 mm, and in some places further when backlit. It look spolished, but its not - it came with brown carbonate scum grown over the face that I had to chemically remove. This is the only thing that protected that broad, exposed face from damage and scratching, though, I would warrant.
A beautiful, cherry-red cluster of extremely sharp crystals arranged diagonally as I would display it, with good gemminess and clean pure color. The piece is extremely translucent even with only moderate backlihgting and is dramatic for its "mountainscape" geometry. All the "peaks" are pristine and terminated. There is only a little divot in the smaller frontal "peak" of a crystal, but that is natural contact and not damage. IN person its not distracting. The right side crystal is terminated all around the backside. All other crystals are complete around their terminations to the back. This composite cluster of crystals is, I feel, a major specimen for the species, and quite elegant compared to some of the more "blocky" examples which seem to be the norm here. Note that in person, these all have better lustre (as shown in the vertical photo designed to show lustre, thought not form, accurately).
This is a robust, thick, composite cluster with fat crystals of a pure cherry red color. They are all translucent, and when backlit this positively glows. Even in normal lighting, it is translucent at edges. The crystal is complete and fully terminated all around except for very minor edge wear on the left side edge only - not seen in any case from the front display. Seldom could you see anything comprable from Broken Hill, where slender crystals are more common than robust pieces with the good color like this.
A stunning, visually impactful and very large piece that is among the largest I have yet seen with good crystal form. The piece sits horizontally or stands vertically to equal effect. It is extremely translucent to transparent at the edges. Even despite the thickness (1 inch!!!), it is a pure cherry color and very translucent throughout. This cluster has one VERY FAT crystal as a base, that is 1 inch thick and tapers to a point. The sidecar crystal is about 3.5 cm long and slender. The back side of the piece is contacted as shown vertical(or the bottom as it sits horizontal), and there is a small bit of damage at the lower part of the tapering termination atop. However, this is not a big visual detraction and otherwise I can say the piece would have cost me over 10k in Brazil if totally perfect. It is, for what it is, still so significant and so displayable that I am wiling to overlook that little tiny damaged bit at the bottom of the termination - at the right price, which I am passing on at essentially the cost to me in the lot.
A killer miniature with sharp geometric form, composed of several intergrown crystals. The piece is a pure cherry-red color with no brown, and is displayable on both horizontal and vertical axes. As shown horizontally, it is pristine on all ront and side faces, slightly contacted in back, and sits flat on a base termination that I believe is slightly contacted (and not broken). Standing vertical, it is perhaps even more dramatic, though. This kind of miniature, with color and form, would be tens of thousands of dolalrs if from Broken Hill's old finds. Again, I am shocked to see trhdonite in this quality, and "relatively" affordable, from a new find.
This is the best thumbnail I have yet seen in the new lots, and it is composed of a cluster of a large twin in the middle with 3 intergrown untwinned crystals. The piece is pristine in front and has just a few contacts on the back but is essentially completely formed around the back as well. Complex form, juicy color, and trnaslucency make this a vrey interesting piece in its own right, not just a "small examnple."
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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