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D05-42 - (Meta-)Torbernite - $ 2100 SOLD Musonoi Mine, Katanga, Zaire miniature, 4 x 3.5 x 2.1 cm
Sharp crystals of "green wulfenite" as it is so often called. These are classics from the early 1980s, and remain unequaled for the species! Technically they are metatorbernite, but we call them torb's anyhow, colloquially. This is a superb miniature, complete all around, and of exceptional quality. The crystal size and quality is near the maximum found and certainly among the best on the market in some time.
D06-53 - Dewindtite on Torbernite, with Curite and Parsonsite - $ 750 SOLD Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shaba/Katanga Dist., Congo (Zaïre) (TYPE LOCALITY) miniature, 5.2 x 2.8 x 1.5 cm ex. Charlie Freed ex. Robert Gage
This is a very rich specimen of dewindtite, dating to 1925 before it was even officially named, and the early era of exploration of this region by many great Belgian mineralogists. The label is noted WWI-era collector Robert Gage's, in his own hand. I showed this to Bill Pinch, to confirm its legitimacy , and he told me it is indeed one of the better example sof the species he has seen. A rare (if hot) treasure!
ES28 - Torbernite - $ 2400 Gunnislake Mine, Cornwall, England miniature, 3.1 x 2.9 x 2.8 cm ex. Ernie Schlichter
ES7 - Torbernite - $ 1800 SOLD Gunnislake, Cornwall, England cabinet, 10.9 x 8 x 5.2 cm ex. Ernie Schlichter
Specimens of any species from Cornwall, England are rare considering the centuries-old mining that took place there. "Gunnies" like this date back over 150 years, and large specimens, rich with color and crystals, are almost unheard of on the open market! On a quartz matrix are several shiny, neon green, composite crystals of torbernite, up to almost 3 cm across. The rarity, size and sparkle all add up to a stunning specimen of a historic and rare mineral for the locality.
GWS04 - Torbernite - $ 1500 SOLD Shinkolobwe, Central area, Shaba Cu belt, Shaba (Katanga), Dem.Rep. of the Congo (Zaïre) cabinet, 12.5 x 9.3 x 7.4 cm
An exceptionally large and rich "bush" of lustrous, deep green torbernite crystals with intense juicy color saturation! This piece is COVERED with a thousand crystals, all the classic sharp wulfenite-looking habit that the mine produced in the 1970s. It is, despite its size, in exceptional condition! This comes out of a small midwestern museum collection BB1 - Francevillite - $750 (SOLD) 00-005 Mounana Mine, Haut-Ogoue Province, Gabon Small Cabinet, 7.5 x 3.2 x 3.1 cm A gorgeous, colorful, completely covered specimen of this beautiful rarity!
JWHITE-01 - Torbernite - $ 750 Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico cabinet, 14.8 x 9.3 x 7.0 cm ex. John White
This is a rather large specimen of torbernite from MEXICO. One does not often see this material, let alone in cabinet sized plates smothered with hundreds of crystals. Rare material for the locality, I was most surprised to see this specimen in the collection as it is more richly covered than all others I have seen from there put together. Probably dates to the 1960s-early 70s
MD-114126 - Torbernite - - Archived Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.8 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm.
4.8 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm. Iridescent, green blades of torbernite RICHLY cover all sides of matrix on this VERY SHOWY piece from the famous Musonoi Mine of Zaire. This is from the famous 1970s finds of glassy green crystals, never repeated in this quality.
MD-119302 - Torbernite - - Archived Chalk Mountain Mine, Spruce Pine, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell Co., North Carolina, USA cabinet, 14.4 x 8.6 x 3.8 cm.
14.4 x 8.6 x 3.8 cm. An extremely rare North Carolina torbernite! Torbernite (a uranium phosphate) is actually rare from anywhere in crystallized specimens. The best know are from Africa and France, and closely-related autunite is well-known from Germany and Washington (state). Occurrences in other localities are rare, and you just do not see North Carolina specimens around. These are flat, platy crystals, of a bright grass green color and a very high luster, looking like shiny sequins in person. Old material collected in the 1960s.
MD-119952 - Torbernite - - Archived Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.8 x 0.9 cm.
2.6 x 1.8 x 0.9 cm. Good bladed crystal specimens of this rare uranium mineral are VERY hard to come by; the good ones come only from this locality and from France, and are very difficult to obtain. This is a toenail-sized specimen of wonderful crystals -- gemmy, lustrous and with fine deep green color. Ex. Don Belsher Collection.
MD-120981 - Torbernite - - Archived Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm.
3.2 x 2.5 x 1.4 cm. There is hardly anything with the sheer visual impact of a great Torbernite. The deep green color and the superb luster of the blades, which range up to an impressive .9 cm, create a toenail of incredible aesthetics.
MD-121272 - Torbernite - - Archived Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) small cabinet, 7.8 x 6.8 x 2.6 cm.
7.8 x 6.8 x 2.6 cm. A rich specimen of the rare uranium mineral torbernite, with sharp, deep green bladed crystals filling its shallow pockets. Torbernites are of course very difficult to obtain, whether from France or Africa, and are highly valued by collectors! The crystals from this locality are most metallic and lustrous.
MD-131124 - Torbernite, Quartz - - Archived Gunnislake Area, Callington District, Cornwall, England, UK miniature, 4.2 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm.
4.2 x 3.2 x 3.2 cm. A CLASSIC, OLD-TIME and showy specimen of lustrous, emerald-green torbernite crystals to 7 mm nicely placed on vuggy quartz matrix from Gunnislake, Cornwall circa late 1800s. The nearby quartz points add character to this fine, old-timer.
MD-163970 - Torbernite - - Archived Chalk Mountain Mine, Spruce Pine, Spruce Pine District, Mitchell Co., North Carolina, USA small cabinet, 8.2 x 3.1 x 3.0 cm.
8.2 x 3.1 x 3.0 cm. An extremely rare North Carolina torbernite! Torbernite is actually rare from anywhere in crystallized specimens. The best known are from Africa and France, and closely-related autunite is well-known from Germany and Washington (state). Occurrences in other localities are rare, and you just do not see North Carolina specimens around. These are flat, platy crystals to 6 mm, of a bright grass-green color and a very high lustre, looking like shiny sequins in person. Old material collected in the 1960s.
MD-165791 - Kasolite, Torbernite, Malachite - - Archived Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) small cabinet, 6.5 x 4.9 x 4.4 cm.
6.5 x 4.9 x 4.4 cm. A STRIKING and very rich kasolite and torbernite specimen from the famous Musonoi Mine of Zaire. Kasolite is RARE oxidation product of uraninite and this VERY SHOWY specimen is richly sprinkled with discrete crystals and clusters of radial, yellow-orange kasolite crystals with GEMMY, dayglow-green, torbernite plates on a sharply contrasting malachite-rich matrix. Indeed, a colorful and striking visual specimen. These are classic for the species, hard to obtain today. Ex. Bob Byers collection.
MD-166993 - Torbernite, Malachite - - Archived Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) miniature, 4.8 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm.
4.8 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm. Iridescent, highly lustrous, grass-green torbernite plates to 5 mm aesthetically and richly fill a vug in matrix. The tan matrix surrounding the vug is nicely accented with malachite on this showy specimen from the famous Musonoi Mine of Zaire. A highly representative combination specimen from this well-known locality.
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