|
Mineral Specimens with Sphalerite
(click on a page number to go to that page:)
page 20 / 41 - prev - 609 specimens selected - next
7.5 x 7.0 x 3.8 cm. A fine combination specimen from Naica, Mexico. Lustrous, black sphalerite crystals to 2.7 cm with superb trigonal growth faces are aesthetically set on matrix with glassy, colorless, cuboctahedral fluorite crystals and a well-placed, 2.7cm, partially skeletal, galena crystal. Seldom do you know the exact mine from this famous district. However, this Mullane Collection specimen comes with a University of Sonora Engineering School label that tells us the mine, which is very uncommon - the Siglo XX.
MD-221158 - Chalcopyrite, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz, Kutnohorite, Dickite - - Archived
Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA
small cabinet, 6.5 x 5.3 x 3.0 cm.
|
 share specimen
|
6.5 x 5.3 x 3.0 cm. A fine association specimen. This piece features a translucent, gemmy, red/pink crystal group of rhombic Rhodochrosite measuring 2.3 x 1.5 cm, but the most attractive aspect of this specimen is the fact that it is associated with Chalcopyrite, modified cuboctahedra of purple and colorless/white Fluorite crystals, along with Pyrite, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite, Quartz, Kutnohorite and possibly Dickite. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.
3.2 x 2.7 x 2.2 cm. The Camp Bird mine is one of the most classic San Juan Mountain localities, and is famous for its sulfide specimens. Some of the most attractive and impressive Sphalerite/Galena/Chalcopyrite association specimens are found in this mine along with the Idarado mine. This specimen features black, Spinel-Law twinned Sphalerite crystals along with gun-metal silver/grey cuboctahedra of Galena and lustrous golden Chalcopyrite crystals which are associated with minor white Calcite and pastel olive-green Epidote. The Epidote is a dead giveaway that this piece was found in the Replacement Ore Body of the Camp Bird, as Epidote was found throughout the contact zone. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.
2.3 x 2.3 x 1.2 cm. A very good representative Sphalerite from the Replacement Ore Body of the Idarado mine. The crystals show very sharp, tetrahedral form (with minor modifications) with a lustrous jet black appearance. There is some minor associated Chalcopyrite on around the edges of the specimen as well. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.
7.5 x 7.0 x 5.6 cm. An fine combination specimen from the Elmwood Mine. Two gemmy and lustrous, intergrown, light purple fluorite cubes are perched on rubyjack sphalerite matrix. The larger cube is 4.5 x 4.4 cm and has glassy and gemmy corners, typical of many Elmwood fluorites. The rest of the faces are lightly etched and present a beautiful contrast. Classic Elmwood combination material, with the gemmy corners being a nice bonus.
3.8 x 3.1 x 3.0 cm. Three 2.0 cm, gemmy, gorgeous, sharp, red sphalerite crystals are aesthetically set in matrix and are nicely complimented by lustrous, tan calcite rhombs, quartz and one galena crystal. This excellent, complete all-around piece is from the Shuikoushan Mine of China and these sphalerites are considered to be some of the finest in the world.
11.0 x 6.3 x 4.0 cm. A 5.0 cm, pristine "corsage" of lustrous, gemmy, rubyjack sphalerite crystals very aesthetically set on a cabinet plate of silicified limestone covered with sparkly, drusy quartz. This is a superb sphalerite specimen from the Elwood Mine. Ex. Consie Prince Collection.
Mark my words: with the Elmwood now closed for good, there are going to be a lot of people kicking themselves 2 or 3 years from now for not grabbing great specimens when they were around. Already, they are noticeably scarce at the shows. Museum-size specimens such as this of superb quality are money in the bank, as far as I’m concerned. And I have rarely seen a combo piece as dramatic as this one. It just has it all: remarkable size, perfect structure and balance, superb crystallization of the fluorites and sphalerite, and a wonderful barite ball, with just the right amount of matrix supporting the whole assemblage. This is the sort of piece that deserves to have a stand built for it and to be in a place of honor! The fine fluorites, to over 3 cm, cascade down the left side of the specimen. They have grown on lustrous sphalerite (the zinc ore that was the reason for the Elmwood’s existence). Finely-crystallized individual sphalerite clusters measure up to 4 cm, some decorated with small, gem-like fluorites. The barite ball serves as a perfect base for the piece. Compare a piece like this, at under 3k, with what, say, a smallish Sweet Home rhodo costs nowadays, and you begin to realize how much bang for the buck this is. And with the supply dwindling, now’s the time if there ever was one . . .MUCH BETTER IN PERSON! 33 x 15 x 9 cm
14.0 x 10.0 x 8.3 cm. An incredible large specimen with bi-colored fluorite crystals, to 4.0 cm across perched on splendent, black sphalerite crystals to 1.5 cm. The fluorite crystals exhibit both pastel green and pastel lavender colors - and intense saturation as well. The crystals are gemmy and transparent. The gemmier cubes are modified by octahedral faces.
14.7 x 10.6 x 8.0 cm. A beautiful combination piece. This has clusters of gemmy, bi-colored fluorite crystals, to 3.0 cm across, exhibiting both pastel green and pastel lavender hues. The crystals are cubes modified by octahedral faces. There are also two clusters of lustrous, black sphalerite to 3.5 cm across perched among the fluorite crystals. As an added effect, there is a thin drusy crust of white quartz draped over both the fluorite and sphalerite. All of this is underlain by a matrix of galena, sphalerite and pyrite.
15.5 x 11.7 x 7.8 cm. The sculptural quality and aesthetics of this specimen are exquisite. Massive, black sphalerite is the matrix for gemmy, bi-colored, pastel green and pastel lavender fluorite crystals, to 4.5 cm across. Color is very rich for Naica. These are cubes with modifying octahedral faces. They also exhibit stepped growth. One incredible characteristic of this specimen is that the back side of the fluorite came off the pocket wall and was later re-healed with some growth over the contacted face there, making this technically a floater with no open attachment points.
5.3 x 4.0 x 3.5 cm. This fantastic crystal is transparent and sharp as can be wished for, complete except for a small contact in the back. Aesthetically perched on a matrix of splendent, black sphalerite, are two equant, gemmy, pastel lavender fluorite crystals. The large one atop is about 3 cm across. The fluorite crystals are cubes modified by octahedral faces, classic for Naica.
6.3 x 5.6 x 3.2 cm. Aesthetically perched high on bright, black sphalerite crystals to 1.7 cm across is a 3.5 cm complex crystal of gemmy, pastel green fluorite. The fluorite crystals are cubes with modifying octahedral faces.
6.4 x 5.8 x 5.8 cm. The color in the center of this cluster of gemmy fluorite crystals is pastel green while around the periphery it is the very lightest pastel lavender. All the fluorite crystals, which reach 2.6 cm across, appear to be cubes with modifying octahedral faces. Stepped growth is also clearly evident. Splendent, black sphalerite forms the matrix for this piece.
7.8 x 6.0 x 4.6 cm. Splendent, black sphalerite crystals, to 2.25 cm across, form a matrix on which is impaled a cluster of gemmy, pastel green and pastel lavender, fluorite crystals, to 2.5 cm across. The fluorite crystals exhibit stepped growth of cubes modified by octahedral faces. The 3-tiered specimen has very nice aesthetics, with the sparkle of the overlaying Quartz druse adding a lot to the overall impact.
(click on a page number to go to that page:)
page 20 / 41 - prev - 609 specimens selected - next
Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
All Content and Design ©1996-2012 The Arkenstone
Mineral Specimens by species; or
by specimen id.
|
![Sphalerite, Fluorite, Galena from Siglo XX mine, Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221030a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221030a.jpg)
![Sphalerite, Fluorite, Galena from Siglo XX mine, Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221030b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221030b.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz, Kutnohorite, Dickite from Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158a.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz, Kutnohorite, Dickite from Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158b.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz, Kutnohorite, Dickite from Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158c.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158c.jpg)
![Chalcopyrite, Rhodochrosite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Quartz, Kutnohorite, Dickite from Sweet Home Mine (Home Sweet Home Mine), Mount Bross, Alma District, Park Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158d.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221158d.jpg)
![Sphalerite, Galena, Chalcopyrite from Camp Bird Mine, Ouray, Sneffels District (Mount Sneffels District), Ouray Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221193a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221193a.jpg)
![Sphalerite, Galena, Chalcopyrite from Camp Bird Mine, Ouray, Sneffels District (Mount Sneffels District), Ouray Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221193b.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221193b.jpg)
![Sphalerite from Idarado Mine, Telluride, Ouray District (Uncompahgre District), San Miguel Co., Colorado, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-221270a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-221270a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-222329a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-222329a.jpg)
![Sphalerite, Calcite, Quartz from Shuikoushan Pb-Zn-Cu deposit, Shuikoushan ore field, Changning Co., Hengyang Prefecture, Hunan Province, China [db_pics/mdpics/MD-222330a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-222330a.jpg)
![Sphalerite from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-222496a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-222496a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite, Baryte from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Central Tennessee Ba-F-Pb-Zn District, Smith Co., Tennessee, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-22353a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-22353a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224745a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224745a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite, Quartz from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224746a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224746a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224747a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224747a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224748a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224748a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224753a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224753a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224756a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224756a.jpg)
![Fluorite, Sphalerite, Quartz from Naica, Mun. de Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico [db_pics/mdpics/MD-224757a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-224757a.jpg)