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Mineral Specimens with Sphalerite
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11.5 x 9 x 7 cm. Elmwood is now closed, apparently for good, and the lucky flood of calcites from the mine will be remembered forever. However, even in its heyday, specimens such as this were never common. This is a perfectly situated gem calcite with the most intense amber color possible for the locality, perched upon crystallized sphalerite matrix (a much nicer contrast than the usual perch upon gray limestone). It is good from either side (both are shown). The crystal is literally perched atop the shard of sphalerite-coated matrix, and measures 11.6 x 6 x 5 cm in size. The intensely amber crystals tend not to get so gemmy, and so this is a very rare specimen in that regard...you can actually look through all but the very center of the crystal, and see through to the other side or to the underlying matrix. On one side, the specimen presents the largest calcite faces front and center, showing a very equant twinned scalenohedron, perched on the sphalerite. But on this side th sphalerite is very unusual, occurring as flattened crystals overlying the limestone in a thin, sparkling coating. On the other side of the specimen, the calcite presents more elegantly, showing more of the sharp corners and edges than the broad lateral faces, and the sphalerite is more robustly crystallized as is typical for the mine.
7.5 x 5.3 x 3.8 cm. An aesthetic fluorite cluster from the Elmwood Mine. Lustrous, translucent, pretty purple cubes to 3.3 x 3.3 cm have deeper purple edges and colorless interiors. The striking, stepped-growth faces really add character to this excellent piece, which is on sphalerite matrix. Classic material from this noted locale. Ex. Consie Prince Collection.
A very aesthetic specimen of lightly iridescent chalcopyrite crystals and lustrous and gemmy sphalerite crystals set on a curved-at-the-top crust of milky-white quartz crystal needles. The large, 1.3 cm chalcopyrite crystal perched on the top really adds to the attractiveness of this Commodore Mine piece. 6.0 x 4.2 x 2.3 cm
14.7 x 11 x 4.5 cm. An outstanding pseudomorph of Siderite and Sphalerite replacing the original Calcite. This variety of replacement is an epimorph, where the later minerals have formed over and then casted the original crystal, which has now vanished and dissolved away leaving the hollow shell intact. The form is superb, and the color variations between terminations and faces, as well as the metallic luster on some of the crystals, creates a visual splendor and presence not often seen in something non-gemmy - especially in pseudomorphs. This reminds one of the great old-time, Hemimorphite pseudomorphs from Missouri, but with sharper crystals yet. The largest crystal in this magnificent plate is an amazing 6.5 cm long. A fabulous specimen, dramatic in appearance, from a major find. Ex. Charlie Key.
This is actually a single very large sphalerite crystal with a myriad of faces on it, with accenting barite, and a tiny purple fluorite crystal. From the now-closed Elmwood. 5.6 x 4.3 x 2.9 cm
5.7 x 5.5 x 5.3 cm. An outstanding pseudomorph of Siderite and Sphalerite replacing the original Calcite. This variety of replacement is an epimorph, where the later minerals have formed over and then casted the original crystal, which has now vanished and dissolved away leaving the hollow shell intact. The form is superb, and the color variations between terminations and faces, as well as the metallic luster on some of the crystals, creates a visual splendor and presence not often seen in something non-gemmy - especially in pseudomorphs. This magnificent crystal, about 5.3 cm long, sits absolutely perfect on the matrix, and it is accented by a smaller crystal at the base. Very aesthetic. Ex. Charlie Key.
A brilliant, lustrous, very 3-dimensional piece with sharp, fiery orange-red, 2-cm sphalerite crystals perched on brilliantly lustrous quartz crystals. This is a very fine piece. BETTER AND GEMMIER IN PERSON! 9.1 x 5.5 x 4 cm
A truly spectacular specimen of GEMMY, OLIVE-GREEN sphalerite crystals with incredible lustre, perched on quartz matrix. It is much better in person and is really just striking and colorful (you get an idea from the closeup), though hard to photograph. I have seen a lot of these over the years and few so rich and colorful as this fine plate. MUCH BETTER IN PERSON... 4.1 x 4 x 2.5 cm
14.8 x 12.8 x 5.8 cm. A beautiful cabinet specimen from a small find that was brought out at Munich in 2006. These very unusual, barrel-shaped crystals are actually epimorphs, i.e. casts after calcite crystals, which have been dissolved away. Microprobe analysis in South Africa by Bruce Cairncross and others shows that the shimmering, metallic-like coating is a mixture of siderite and sphalerite. The piece is very light weight for its size and, in fact, the casts are hollow, as the couple broken crystals on the specimen reveal. The striking cluster at the top really jumps out at you. The large crystal is 5.2 cm. Interesting, totally unique material from this find.
4.8 x 3.5 x 1.4 cm. A sculptural, very beautiful wire silver combination specimen from the historic mines at Pribram. The piece looks like a bird with a large beak. The "beak" is composed of thick, intergrown, silver wires coated with acanthite and is attached to a "head" of quartz. The banded neck and chest area is highlighted by lustrous ruby-jack sphalerite crystals, sparkly pyrite microcrystals and more acanthite-coated silver. The lower part of the "bird's" body is matrix. Truly an aesthetic, old-time wire silver combination specimen from this noted locale. Ex. Marty Lewadny Collection.
A truly spectacular specimen of GEMMY, OLIVE-GREEN sphalerite crystals with incredible lustre, perched on quartz matrix. It is much better in person and is really just striking and colorful (you get an idea from the closeup), though hard to photograph. I have seen a lot of these over the years and few so rich and colorful as this fine plate. MUCH BETTER IN PERSON... 10.3 x 6.7 x 5.1 cm
7.5 x 6.6 x 4.5 cm. A fine specimen from a small find that was brought out at Munich in 2006. These very unusual, barrel-shaped crystals are actually epimorphs, i.e. casts after calcite crystals, which have been dissolved away. The striking large crystal is 4.0 cm tall and is complete-all-around. The two major crystals are pristine. Microprobe analysis in South Africa by Bruce Cairncross and others shows that the shimmering, metallic-like coating is a mixture of siderite and sphalerite. The piece is very light weight for its size and, in fact, the casts are hollow, as the one broken crystal on the side reveals.
MD-278453 - Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite, Quartz, Calcite, Epidote - - Archived
Camp Bird Mine, Ouray, Sneffels District (Mount Sneffels District), Ouray Co., Colorado, USA
small cabinet, 5.7 x 5.2 x 3.4 cm.
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5.7 x 5.2 x 3.4 cm. The Camp Bird mine near Ouray, Colorado is one of the most classic of all the Colorado ore body localities. It is renowned for its superb sulfide specimens. This specimen features superb quality, sharp, lustrous, jet-black crystals of Sphalerite up to 1.1 cm across associated with bright metallic Chalcopyrite plus gemmy Quartz crystals. The underside of the specimen is filled with micro olive-green Epidote and small white crystal groups of scalenohedral Calcite. This is a superb Sphalerite from this most classic of San Juan localities. These specimens are impossible to obtain these days, and are regarded among Colorado collectors as some of the best from the state. This piece came to Rich Kosnar from noted Colorado collector, George Robertson. From the 500 stope, 2100' level.
12.1 x 9.8 x 6.2 cm. A plate of intergrown, splendent, black sphalerite is the matrix for an equant, translucent fluorite crystal measuring 4.2 cm across.
4.3 x 4.2 x 2.8 cm. A cube of translucent, purple fluorite, with some stepped faces, is perched on splendent, dark sphalerite. The fluorite measures 3.0 cm across.
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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