The Arkenstone: Specimen Galleries
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SAMPLES OF MIXED NEW FINDS FROM TUCSON SHOW, 2008 !



HEMATITE PS. AFTER MAGNETITE: Argentina
We have all seen these over the last 6-7 years, in spurts, trickle out of this national park area and surprise us with the sharp symmetry of these replacements. Most in the past have been dull to barely metallic, and a gray in color. However, for the first time, this new batch which came to market has real lustre and more vibrant color, not just a metallic sheen on a battleship-gray surface - but really lustrous and sparkly. I do not know what particular quirk of geological conditions caused this, but the particular groups which came to the show THIS year are markedly superior to previous finds in the lustre department.

FLUORITE: ENGLAND
Intense green fluorite crystals to 4 cm, finally brought to market from mining at the end of summer 2007 at this reopened old mine. Several of these are of remarkable size, for the condition and quality!

FLUORITE & GALENA: NEW MEXICO
A rare locality find of sharp, lustrous, bright galena on purple fluorite collected by Ray Demark on his claims in the Bingham area, New Mexico. Galena in this quality is almost unheard of for the locality.

SPESSARTINE: large floater gem crystals from BRAZIL
Specimens of complexly crystallized garnet from a new find in Brazil, with some of the best lstre and gemminess yet seen.


T08-25A – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $6000
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
CABINET, 11.8 x 5.6 x 4.4 cm
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We have all seen these over the last 6-7 years, in spurts, trickle out of this national park area and surprise us with the sharp symmetry of these replacements. However, for the first time, this new batch which came to market has real lustre, not just a metallic sheen on a battleship-gray surface but really lustrous and sparkly. I do not know what particular quick of geological conditions caused this, but the particular groups which came to the show THIS year are just superior to previous finds in the lustre department. Of them, this was one of the best for my taste, a complete-all-around stack of geometrical shapes perched unlikely , one atop another. Along with the stunning sculptural form of the original magnetite crystals, in both sharp octahedrons and exquisite hopper growth, this specimen has outstanding luster which is hard to convey in the photos. The largest octahedron measures 2.2 cm in length and, by the way, this is a complete floater - no contact points anywhere, complete all around! I will admit that this is pricier than most but its also bigger and better than most...but for this reason, I HAD to have it. It is incredible, in person, and leaps out from the crowd.




T08-25B – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $4000
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
CABINET, 11 x 9 x 3.5 cm
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This superb large cabinet piece is a perfect floater, complete all around, and with elongated crystals covered by a secondary growth of sparkling, lustrous hematite. Along with 25A, this is one of the best large examples of thismaterial I have yet seen in over 6 years of on-and-off production from this highly restricted collecting ground. For reasons i cannot explain, this new find of late 2007 has incredible lustre, a real sparkle and not just a metallic sheen to it. This piece floored me because of the form, a central symmetry which devolves into such opposite forms on the left and right. Few mineral specimens have such geometric contrast on one piece as these - this one in particular. I admit Bill Larson beat me to this one and I had to trade him out of it (at this price, I did not raise it otherwise so its not a 2X markup or anything like that). This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here.




T08-26 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $1250
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
SMALL CABINET, 8.0 x 5.5 x 4.2 cm
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Perfect floater! Resembling the letter “T”, this stunning metallic pseudomorph of hematite after magnetite features several sharp, very lustrous, octahedrons to 2.5 cm across perched on an elognated stalk. There is also evidence of incipient hopper growth on this floater specimen. But, overall, for the size it is remarkable in that the octohedra are not hoppered as so many larger ones have been in the past, from this deposit. One of the more impressive examples for the size I have seen. This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here.




T08-27 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $1750
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
SMALL CABINET, 7.9 x 5.1 x 3.1 cm
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This is a complete floater that features several stacked octahedrons of lustrous, dark metallic hematite after magnetite. The octahedrons reach 2.5 cm across and if you observe carefully, the three crystals on top of the stack exhibit incipient hopper growth though not so much that they mar the octohedral form as yet. This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here!




T08-28 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $2000
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
SMALL CABINET, 8.3 x 3.1 x 2.3 cm
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This one, for the size, floored me as one of the most elegant examples. A cluster of small octahedrons of lustrous , dark metallic hematite after magnetite forms the base for an elongated, hoppered crystal measuring 6.25 cm in length, which is crowned by a tiny octahedron. Stark and beautiful contrast of different crystal forms of the same material on the same piece making for a really nuanced whole! This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here.




T08-29 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $750
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
Miniature, 5.7 x 3.3 x 2.5 cm
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This specimen has a lot going for it. The large crystal on this floater exhibits both octahedral and hopper growth and it measures 4.25 cm in length. It is perched smartly on a natural pedestal and is complete and 3-dimensional all around, an excellent (large) miniature for this find! This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here.




T08-30 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $1500
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
SMALL CABINET, 8.0 x 4.9 x 4.7 cm
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Spectacular! This is a single, HUGE, octahedral crystal that also exhibits major hopper growth. It is also a complete floater and is doubly terminated. The luster is top shelf and the whole dark metallic specimen sparkles with a secondary druse of hematite capping the pseudomorph itself. For stark geometry, this one leaps out.




T08-31 – Hematite pseudomorph after Magnetite - $1600
Payún volcano, Altiplano de Payún Matru, Mendoza, Argentina
SMALL CABINET, 7.6 x 3.0 x 2.7 cm
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This is very similar to # 28 with a large and exquisitely hoppered octahedron perched on a small cluster of crystals. The large crystal measures 5.0 cm in length and three faces exhibit the beautiful chevron effect of hoppered growth where the crystal edges grow faster than the crystal centers. It has great luster and a dark gray metallic color. The symmetry is striking, in person all the more so. This is a pristine floater, complete all around, with better lustre in person than appears here.




T08-32 – Fluorite - $1500
Rogerly Mine, Frosterly, County Durham, England
CABINET, 14.4 x 10.8 x 8.6 cm
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Dark gray limestone with a layer of banded, massive, quartz, is host to large lustrous and translucent crystals of fluorite, to 4 cm across. Individual crystals exhibit both a rich emerald green at the core and gemmy purple even in daylight (from the slight UV rays they catch and fluoresce to). In addition, the crystals clearly show off penetration twinning. This specimen features some of the largest fluorite crystals yet found in the recent mining at the Rogerly mine, and come from the last pocket found in the digging season of 2007.




T08-33 - Fluorite - $2500
Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, County Durham, England
CABINET, 12.9 x 10.3 x 5.4 cm
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This is a sculpturally dramatic plate of penetration-twinned crystals of lustrous and translucent fluorite, to 4 cm across. The core of the crystals is a rich emerald green color while the crystal edges are a rich gemmy purple even in daylight (from the slight UV rays they catch and fluoresce to). Very showy piece, though it has no matrix, for the overall form! There is very minor edge wear only, nothing seriously detracting, but it is there. This specimen features some of the largest fluorite crystals yet found in the recent mining at the Rogerly mine, and come from the last pocket found in the digging season of 2007.




T08-34 - Fluorite - $3000
Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, County Durham, England
LARGE CABINET, 17.4 x 12.4 x 11.5 cm
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A matrix of banded white quartz hosts this very large cluster of twinned, lustrous and translucent fluorite crystals to 3 cm across. Rarely do you get such a LARGE specimen with no damage of note and such good coverage, in fact 360-degrees around?! The core of the crystals is a rich emerald green while the gemmy crystal edges are a rich purple even in daylight (from the slight UV rays they catch and fluoresce to). The total visual impact/effect of this large specimen is really amazing. Historically, there just is not much available of this size and quality. Also, as with most large specimens in photos, this is bigger and better in person.




T08-36 - Fluorite - $3000
Rogerley Mine, Frosterley, County Durham, England
LARGE CABINET, 17.7 x 14.2 x 12.1 cm
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This very sculptural specimen of stacked fluorite crystals is on a knob of limestone. The crystals are slightly frosted with very gemmy corners. The crystals are twinned, and exhibit both emerald green and rich purple colors even in daylight (from the slight UV rays they catch and fluoresce to). The largest crystal measures 3.5 cm across. Rarely do you get such a LARGE specimen with no damage of note and such good coverage, in fact 360-degrees around?! The total visual impact/effect of this large specimen is really amazing. Historically, there just is not much available of this size and quality.Also, as with most large specimens in photos, this is bigger and better in person.




T08-35 - Fluorite with Galena - $2750
Bingham, Socorro County, New Mexico
CABINET, 10.9 x 8.1 x 5.3 cm
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Silicified limestone with a druse of sparkling white quartz is the matrix for a wonderful assemblage! This piece and others here feature some of the best unaltered galena I have yet seen from Bingham, and were collected by Ray DeMark on his claims in the area in the summer of 2007. This piece shows off frosted, translucent, lavender colored fluorite crystals to 1.6 cm across. Emplaced on the fluorite is a startlingly contrasting cluster of lustrous , metallic- gray, galena crystals which individually reach 3.25 cm across and look as if they were just "put on" and left to dry. They look fresh and bright, unaltered to anglesite as are most galenas I have seen from this area. They are remarkably freestanding and I dare to say this might be the best galena combo piece in recent years - certainly it is by far the best I know of, or others familiar with the locality for a long time to whom I showed it to here in Dallas....and we have collectively seen many collections and been here many times as well. Ray, who owns the claim, thought pretty highly of the piece and the pocket as well! In person, the 3-dimensional contrast really leaps out all the more. the photos just do not convey it. This is a seemingly pricey piece, no question. But it really is that good, I feel, as to be worth a premium. And I had to buy 2 TABLES full of lesser material to get these best-of-pocket galenas and then trim these out of huge blocks of massive rock. Lots of work!




T08-37 Fluorite with Galena - $2000 (ON HOLD)
Bingham, Socorro County, New Mexico
CABINET, 11.5 x 10.7 x 8.9 cm
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Intergrown cubes of intensely lavender, translucent, fluorite, to 1.75 cm across, completely cover a white quartz druse which in turn, is emplaced on a matrix of siliceous limestone. Aesthetically perched on some of the fluorite crystals are cubes of lustrous, battleship gray, galena, to 1.5 cm across. the contrast is stark and striking, and also highly unusual for the mine! They look fresh and bright, unaltered to anglesite as are most galenas I have seen from this area. This piece and others here feature some of the best unaltered galena I have yet seen from Bingham, and were collected by Ray DeMark on his claims in the area in the summer of 2007.




T08-38 - Fluorite on Quartz - $900
Bingham, Socorro County, New Mexico
SMALL CABINET, 9.2 x 6.3 x 4.2 cm
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A sparkling bright druse of white quartz upon which is emplaced several crystals of intensely colored, translucent crystals of fluorite, to 3.25 cm across makes for a visually appealing specimen here...very much more desirable than the usual solid blue plates. The color contrast is wonderful as is the fact that each fluorite crystal exhibits both purple and lavender hues differentially in zones. This was collected by Ray DeMark on his claims in the area in the summer of 2007.




T08-39 - Spessartine Garnet - $300
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 3.6 x 2.6 x 2.3 cm
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Covered in growth striations, this complete floater of spessartine is glassy and gemmy with a rich reddish-orange color and highlights. It is unusually robust for its size, in thickness and mass (34 grams). Complete and mezmerizing in complex patterns, all around! Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even.




T08-40 - Spessartine Garnet (521 grams!) - $5000
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
CABINET, 9.5 x 5.6 x 5.5 cm
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At about half a kilo, this is one of the largest, best, and complete floaters of spessartine that I have seen from these finds which have now trickled out for several years. Most of this size are squashed or for some reason lacking in top lustre. Not this one! The whole crystal is glassy and gemmy with a rich reddish-orange color and gem highlights at the edges even in minimal lighting. It is extremely thick, more so than almost any other from here I have seen, and so the translucence is obviously more prominent at the edges but even there it is visible without extreme backlighting. I also particularly like the dramatic growth striations which , because of the size of the piece overall, are so visually impactful. There are also a few colorless quartz crystals at the base of the specimen (or the top, as it is a floater and can display from any angle at all!). Overall, a remarkable piece with exceptional quality even amidst the crowd. MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE in person.




T08-41 - Spessartine Garnet - $400 (SOLD)
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 4.1 x 3.0 x 2.6 cm
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So far, this is the gemmiest spessartine yet in this update. The glassy luster and great reddish –orange color is augmented by the superb and unusually deep stepped growth striations. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. Approx. 34 grams




T08-42 - Spessartine Garnet - $175
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Small Miniature, 3.1 x 2.5 x 2.0 cm
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This is another complete floater of spessartine with bright glassy lustre to it! The stepped growth, the glassy and gemmy, reddish-orange color and highlights, all go together to make this crystal more dramatic than most. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. It seems as if this garnet has more of the typical garnet faces preserved on it, after the solution etching these went through, than others. Approx 28 grams.




T08-43 - Spessartine Garnet - $1250
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Small Miniature, 3.0 x 2.7 x 1.7 cm
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Transparent and glassy, this spessartine crystal is also a complete floater and it exhibits an incredible reddish-orange color and a high glassy lustre that is simply an extra few percentiles better than others here or that I have seen. It just "glows." The difference is small but important, and the price reflects this. For quality, its my favorite piece of all here in some ways. Stepped growth is dramatically visible and this accents the color and lustre. Portions of this crystal could be cut into fine gem stones, if desired. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. Approx. 24 grams




T08-44 - Spessartine Garnet - $900
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 4.2 x 2.3 x 1.6 cm
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This glassy and gemmy spessartine is a superb reddish-orange color with near total gemminess. It is also a complete floater with wonderful sculptural quality. Transparent and glassy, this spessartine crystal is also a complete floater and it exhibits an incredible reddish-orange color and a high glassy lustre that is simply an extra few percentiles better than others here or that I have seen. It just "glows." The difference is small but important, and the price reflects this. For quality, its my favorite piece of all here in some ways. Stepped growth is dramatically visible and this accents the color and lustre. Portions of this crystal could be cut into fine gem stones, if desired. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. Approx. 20 grams




T08-45 - Spessartine Garnet - $950
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 5.7 x 4.7 x 3.6 cm
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Glassy and gemmy, with reddish-orange color, this spessartine is a large, blocky, complete floater which exhibits stepped growth. It is actually unusual for the find in that it is fairly equant and fat throughout. it is heftier than it looks, thus, weighing about 150 grams. EVEN WITH THIS THICKNESS, THOUGH, IT IS GEMMY INTERNALLY AND TRANSLUCENT WHEN BACKLIT, TRANSPARENT AT THE EDGES.




T08-46 - Spessartine Garnet - $750
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 3.6 x 2.9 x 2.1 cm
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This is a dramatic, sculptural crystal of glassy and gemmy spessartine with superb reddish-orange color. It is a complete floater which exhibits etching od dissolution effects like others here; but also it shows , I think, several of the original pre-etching garnet faces on top still. The geometry is very good, the gemminess is very good, the lustre is brilliant...overall a superb miniature! Approx 37 grams.




T08-47 - Spessartine Garnet - $300 (SOLD)
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 4.2 x 3.2 x 2.5 cm
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A complete floater, this gemmy and glassy spessartine crystal exhibits a superb reddish-orange color and brilliant lustre. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. Approx 54 grams . BETTER IN PERSON!




T08-48 - Spessartine Garnet - $1250 (SOLD)
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 7.5 x 6.5 x 3 cm
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A very large crystal that is about 215 grams, glassy and gemmy with superb reddish-orange color and etched growth. This spessartine is a floater with large areas of cuttable material. Because of the size, the complexity seems higher than others here , but its really just more surface area tricking the eye into believing that. This crystal is complete all around except for a few very small dings that aren't immediately distracting (but they are there, and the price is thus lowered accordingly from what it might otherwise be , making this a relative bargain for the other qualities and visual impact). Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. It is hard to say which side I like better, the more uniform side or the side with a neat zig-zag indentation running the length of the center, and with individual gemmy crystals perched on ledges within (bottom row). These photos show only moderately contrived backlighting, even - I can hold it up to a normal light 60-watt bulb and it STILL lights up and glows at me...




T08-49 - Spessartine Garnet - $600
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 3.9 x 3.3 x 2.3 cm
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This is another fine miniature specimen of glassy and gemmy spessartine with superb coloration of reddish-orange spessartine, is a complete floater with etched growth. IN person, it is MUCH MUCH more 3-dimensional and impressive! It has a natural vug in which small, white albite crystals have formed that runs up and inside the piece from the bottom. The pics don't convey it, but its really one of the best and brightest miniatures here. Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even. Approx. 50 grams




T08-50 - Spessartine Garnet - $325 (SOLD)
Navegador Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Miniature, 5.0 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm
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This is a rather stout crystal of gemmy and glassy spessartine with superb reddish-orange color and etched growth. It weighs 88 grams. It is also a complete floater. There are large gem areas internally...Despite its thickness it is wine-red and fully translucent throughout, when backlit. This photo shows only moderate backlighting, even.




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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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