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D10-31 - Villiaumite with Pectolite - $ 750 Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast, Northern Region, Russia small cabinet, 6.9 x 3.7 x 3.1 cm ex. Al Ordway
Villiaumite is a rare sodium fluoride, known for its beautiful crystals. The mineral usually occurs as mere cleavage fragments or massive vein fillings. Crystals, such as this sharp, freestanding, pseudocubic crystal, are rare. It is about 1.75 cm on edge. An outstanding display-quality specimen from this important locality.
JWHITE-77 - Villiaumite - $ 50 SOLD Bortolan quarry, Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil miniature, 5.0 x 3.0 x 2.1 cm ex. John White
Rare, discrete microcrystals of villiaumite, from an old find in Brazil. John White purchased this from Carlos Barbosa in 1978 for $30. Such discrete (if small) crystals are extremely rare, both for the species and for Brazil as a source of it, and I believe this was a one-time find.
MD-121770 - Villiaumite - - Archived Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm.
2.4 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm. Villiaumite is a RARE sodium halide found in alkali massifs and this sharp, lustrous, carmine-red cube of solid villiaumite beautifully accented with white streaks is highly representative of the species and famous locality - Mt. St-Hilaire. The white streaks are tension crack fillings in a very nice pattern. Ex. Carl Davis Collection.
MD-146136 - Villiaumite - - Archived Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia thumbnail, 2.5 x 2.0 x 1.7 cm.
2.5 x 2.0 x 1.7 cm. An outstanding specimen from this important locality, featuring seemingly terminated cherry-red villiaumite crystals in a cluster. Although beautiful and seemingly cubic, most specimens of villiaumite of any size are simply cleavage fragments, as a customer pointed out to me. This showy piece may have terminated faces on the front of the piece, however, at least. Villiaumite is a rare sodium fluoride.
MD-201739 - Villiaumite - - Archived Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia miniature, 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm.
3.6 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm. An outstanding large specimen from this important locality, featuring a seemingly very gemmy, terminated, cherry-red villiaumite crystal. Although beautiful and seemingly cubic, most specimens of villiaumite of any size are simply cleavage fragments. This showy piece may have one terminated frontal face, along with the termination. Villiaumite is a rare sodium fluoride.
MD-229831 - Villiaumite - - Archived Aris Quarries (Ariskop Quarry; Railway Quarry), Aris, Windhoek, Windhoek District, Khomas Region, Namibia small cabinet, 9 x 5.4 x 5 cm.
9 x 5.4 x 5 cm. A pair of large (up to 2.5 cm) Villiaumite crystals nestled beautifully in a phonolite (a rare volcanic rock) pocket. The Villiaumites are gemmy and have an excellent, uniform orange color. The luster is also excellent. The crystal in the core of the pocket shows natural faces, no cleaves. Ex. Charlie Key Collection.
MD-249814 - Villiaumite - - Archived Bortolan quarry, Poços de Caldas, Poços de Caldas plateau, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil miniature, 5.0 x 3.0 x 2.1 cm.
5.0 x 3.0 x 2.1 cm. Rare, discrete microcrystals of villiaumite, from an old find in Brazil. John White purchased this from Carlos Barbosa in 1978. Such discrete (if small) crystals are extremely rare, both for the species and for Brazil as a source of it, and I believe this was a one-time find. Ex. John White Collection.
MD-270101 - Villiaumite - - Archived Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada thumbnail, 3 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm.
3 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm. An exceptionally sharp, colorful, and lustrous crystal that is better for this locality in terms of outright quality, than you would expect. To Martin Zinn from the famous J.R. Jelks collection, known for its rarities and classics.
MD-270107 - Villiaumite - - Archived Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia small cabinet, 6.6 x 5.8 x 4.5 cm.
6.6 x 5.8 x 4.5 cm. An outstanding large specimen from this important locality, featuring seemingly terminated villiaumite crystals in a cluster. However, I was wrong in my judgment of this. Marty's label notes the presence of Fersmanite which may be here, as well. Although beautiful and seemingly cubic, most specimens of villiaumite of any size are simply cleavage fragments, as a customer pointed out to me: as for the Villiaumites, it is a common misconception that the "monoblock cleavages" from Kola show true crystal faces. They DO NOT. They are in essence parts of single crystals, but come from large "nests" of Villiaumite frozen in the pegmatite without open cavities. The Villiaumite was formed very late in the development of the pegmatite often followed by Nahcolite and other alkaline carbonates. There are no good crystal faces on the boundaries between the Villiaumite and the later formed minerals. These facts do not reduce the aesthetics of the Villiaumite specimens. Ex. Martin Zinn Collection.
MD-51278 - Villiaumite - - Archived Aris Quarries (Ariskop Quarry; Railway Quarry), Aris, Windhoek, Windhoek District, Khomas Region, Namibia thumbnail, 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.2 cm
A single, loose, gem crystal of this rare species, from the newest and most significant find for the material in a long time. In fact, it is so unusual for the crystalline form, and the color, that I did not believe the ID was legit til proven 2 years back. This is a very fine single, small but of high quality and obvious gemminess! 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.2 cm
MRZ283 - Villiaumite - $ 1250 SOLD Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada miniature, 3 x 2.3 x 1.7 cm ex. Martin Zinn
An EXCEPTIONALLY SHARP, colorful, and lustrous crystal that is better for this locality in terms of outright quality , than you would expect. To Zinn from the famous JR Jelks collection, known for its rarities and classics. I have not seen a comparable MSH villiaumite for sale (though you do see them, usually banged up a bit but larger overall, from Russia).
MRZ289 - Villiaumite - $ 750 SOLD Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia small cabinet, 6.6 x 5.8 x 4.5 cm ex. Martin Zinn
An oustanding large specimen from this important locality, featuring seemingly terminated villiaumite crystals in a cluster. However, I was wrong in my judgement of this and have lowered the price accordingly, actually well below what I paid for the specimen which seems to have fooled others before me. Marty's label notes the presence of Fersmanite which may be here, as well. Although beautiful and seemingly cubic, most specimens of villiaumite of any size are simply cleavage fragments,as a a customer pointed out to me:s for the Villiaumites, it is a common misconception that the "monoblock cleavages" from Kola show true crystal faces. They DO NOT.They are in essence parts of single crystals, but come from large "nests" og Villiaumite frozen in the pegmatite without open cavities. The Villaumite was formed very late in the development of the pegmatite often followed by Nahcolite and other alkaline carbonates. There are no good crystal faces on the boundaries between the Villiaumite and the later formed minerals. These facts do not reduce the aesthetics and the value of the Villiaumite specimens. But when novice collectors investing in expensive specimens learn about the true nature ( cleavages ) they may cause grievances to dealers who have passsed them off as beeing "true" crystals..
T06-94 - Villiaumite - $ 125 Aris Phonolite, Namibia thumbnail, 0.6 x 0.4 x 0.2 cm
A single, loose, gem crystal of this rare species, from the newest and most significant find for the material in a long time. In fact, it is so unusual for the crystalline form, and the color, that I did not believe the ID was legit til proven 2 years back. This is a very fine single, small but of high quality and obvious gemminess!
T5128 - Villiaumite - $ 475 Aris Phonolite Quarry, Windhoek, Windhoek District, Namibia miniature, 6.1 x 5 x 2.8 cm
This comes from an incredible, I would even say UNPRECEDENTED, find for the species featuring incredible orange-red color and GEMMINESS combined with complex crystal structure that taken together makes these crystals superficially resemble a spessartine garnet. This was one of the few decent matrix specimens from the find, as was reported from Munich in the Mineralogical Record (where one specimen I had previously is illustrated). Much of the material was being sold as facet rough and was anyways of poor quality or small, partial crystals. This specimen stands out as an actually somewhat non-ugly matrix piece, and though the crystals are not super-sharp they are nevertheless real crystals, and colorful at that. All Content and Design ©1996-2010 The ArkenstonePowered by http://mineralwebsites.comBy-species Galleries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
