HISTORIC MINERALS of the UNITED STATES: many ex. Hollman, Elling, and Scalisi Collections

HISTORIC MINERALS of the UNITED STATES:
many ex. Hollman, Elling, and Scalisi Collections

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USA-44 - Calcite - SOLD
Wheatley Mine, Phoenixville, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
miniature, 5.1 x 3.3 x 1.8 cm

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I collected calcites for 20 years, since I was a kid, and in all that time I had never seen or been offered such a nice, display-worthy CALCITE from these classic mines. I saw pyro, occasionally anglesite or a rare calcite chunk...but this was a "specimen." I bought it from Herb Obodda in the early 1990s and have had it ever since. It came to him from the Schwethelm collection, in Germany, and probably left the US soon after being mined in the late 1800s! Complete all around, a fine piece I was happy to own for about 15 years in my own collection.

USA-48 - Phenacite (twinned) - SOLD
Mt. Antero, Chaffee County, Colorado, USA
thumbnail, 2.1 x 1.7 x 1.6 cm

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This is a SHARPLY twinned, textbook crystal of phenacite from the classic US locle. It is a superb thumbnail, from the Richard Gaines collection (with label)

USA-43 - Pyromorphite - SOLD
Wheatley Mines, Phoenixville, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
cabinet, 10.8 x 6.5 x 4.8 cm

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This is a large , dramatic matrix specimen with crystals to 9mm, from THE classic US pyro locality from the late-1800s until the discovery of more pyros in Idaho only in the 1980s. And still, these are unique, different, and highly desired among collectors. The mines are inaccessible and specimens like this, of such size, are now few and far between on the market - obviously , they come up only when old and complete colections are recycled to the hobby.

USA-42 - Garnet - SOLD
Russell, Massachusetts, USA
miniature, 4.4 x 4.0 x 4.0 cm

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A very sharp, well-developed crystal of classic Russell garnet. It displays very nicely, and is compelte all around except the bottom. ex. Russell Jones collection. In the late 1800s, Daniel Clark and FS Johnson worked a pegmatite that produced these, but no precise locality was given...today they are known as "Russell" garnets for a nearby town.

USA-45 - Emerald on Quartz - SOLD
Hiddenite, North Carolina, USA
miniature, 4.0 x 3.3 x 2.3 cm

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This is a slender 1.1-cm-tall emerald crystal, incredibly gemmy (especially for this locality), glassy, and perched on quartz matrix! I find it the finest emerald on matrix I have seen for here, gram for gram basis, and am so tempted to trim it down to a crazy-sexy thumbnail...but it also looks good as a miniature. A classic. I got this in a collection dating to about 1984 at latest, so it is from old finds here and not modern mining efforts. This is amll perhaps, but it is REALLY choice.

USA-36 - Beryl - SOLD
Strickland Quarry, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA
miniature, 4.5 x 1.4 x 1.0 cm

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Beryl from Strickland Quarry, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa36abg.jpg]

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Beryl from Strickland Quarry, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa36b.jpg]

This yellow-green beryl (perhaps properly called heliodor more than aquamarine) is from the classic Strickland Quarry, and crystals of this size and gemminess have not been found there in decades. The crystal is fully terminated, with a step atop, which is rare - most are broken, repaired, and ugly! This is actually a beautiful crystal that would be at home in any collection of US gem classics. From the noted Connecticut collection of Bruce Jarnot, to me in trade perhaps 4-5 years ago.

USA-37 - Scorzalite - SOLD
Palermo Mine, N. Groton, New Hampshire, USA
cabinet, 10.9 x 8.1 x 5.4 cm

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Scorzalite is a rare blue phosphate, and this is an extremely rich example from a classic US phosphate locality. The deep blue crystals here are to 7mm, mostly in a pocket about the middle of the specimen. Some are damaged, but the core shows good crystals within the color zone. A number of embedded brazilianite crystals are in association, scattered throughout the matrix. Very rich, for the locality!

USA-32 - Uraninite - SOLD
Trebilcock Pit, Topsham, Maine, USA
thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.4 x 1.4 cm

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Uraninite from Trebilcock Pit, Topsham, Maine, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa32abg.jpg]

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Uraninite from Trebilcock Pit, Topsham, Maine, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa32c.jpg]

The so-called "Trebilcock " locationuraninites found in the late 1970s represent the pinnacle of crystallized uraninite, to most collectors. Specimens today are rare on the market. THis beautiful large thubmnail features a dominant 1.5-cm-across crystal perched atop smaller ones, on matrix! SUPERB quality...a competition level specimen. ex. Ken Hollman Collection

USA-34 - Calcite - SOLD
Fanwood Quarry, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, USA
small cabinet, 8.3 x 6.5 x 4.4 cm

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ex. Ken Hollman

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This choice calcite specimen would look at home in a display if you were tol dit was Russian or Indian, where you expect such quality from. But for NJ, its a killer! You do not see many this gemmy , and so sharp. There is minor edge wear here and there, which could be ameliorated with a few drops of acid but I have not bothered as it is trivial in context. ex. Ken Hollman Collection - and note the old label from Charlie Key in his early dealer days in the 1960s or early 1970s.

USA-22 - Grossular Garnet on Idocrase - SOLD
Eden Mills, Lowell, Vermont, USA
small cabinet, 5.9 x 3.4 x 2.6 cm

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ex. Dr. Edward David
ex. Martin Zinn

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The bright, candy-like garnets from this locality are treasured in old collections, and now hard to obtain on the market. This jewel-like specimen has super lustre, intense deep color, and good aesthetics for a miniature-sized example - most are much more sparse in garnet coverage. The crystals reach 6 mm and there is almost no damage, really just a bit at peripheries and one spot in one cluster where a crystal has popped out, leaving a natural contact. It displays VERY impressively. Ex Ed David and Marty Zinn collections.

USA-24 - Rhodonite, Calcite and Franklinite - SOLD
Franklin Mine, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
cabinet, 12.4 x 9.1 x 5.5 cm

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ex. George Elling

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A large, matrix rhodonite with sharp red crystals in contrasting stark white calcite matrix. The little black crystals are franklinite. The large rhodonite in the middle is 6.5 cm , doubly terminated, tip to tip (though it has a growth interruption in the midpoint). These crystals are sharply terminated, and of high quality, thus. Photographs dramatically as a vertical but in person, it looks much better with the crystals diagonally up, and the piece horizontal overall. This is an old specimen, Ex Harvard Museum to Paterson Museum collection, to George Elling collection.

USA-14 - Natrolite - SOLD
Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA
small cabinet, 7.6 x 1.2 x 1.0 cm

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A stunning, unusually gemmy and fine crystal of natrolite from this classic old quarry. Ex James Zigras collection (and he specializes in NJ). Most people consider these rare crystals, when this gemmy and sharp, to be the finest of their species.

USA-11 - Vivianite - SOLD
Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, New Jersey, USA
small cabinet, 7.4 x 6.1 x 3.8 cm

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Vivianite from Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, New Jersey, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa11abg.jpg]

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Vivianite from Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, New Jersey, USA [db_pics/usa1/usa11b.jpg]

I had never seen vivianite from New Jersey myself, and was surprised to see this piece (with an accompanying old Italian label) on a table at Munich where an old colelction of US and Mexico locality pieces was being broken up. The specimen has dark green blades in a protected pocket of hard sandstone. Thanks to Jim Chenard for more comments: This location is old, and part may still be accessible, if they have not developed the whole area.The crystals are on the larger side from there, and it is most likely an older piece. See article: Mullica Hill, New Jersey in Min. Rec. 9-10/1980.

USA-10 - Talc - SOLD
Verde Antique Quarry, Rochester, Windsor Co., Vermont, USA
small cabinet, 9.3 x 6.9 x 3.6 cm

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ex. Ken Hollman

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The Vermont talc specimens are generally considered the prettiest crystallized talcs. First off, it is green - and most talc is just plain old white. Secondly, it is from a classic, defunct, and important US locality. And lastly, it is aesthetic, with freestanding crystals all over the place, instead of tightly compacted masses as you usuaully see from here and from other locales where talc occurs purely. The classic Italian examples are as fine in crystalography, but i have not seen a big and green one. A beautiful, interesting piece - and yes, it DOES feel like talc, when you touch it. ex. Ken Hollman Collection

USA-08 - Antimony nugget - SOLD
Antimony Peak, Kern County, California, USA
small cabinet, 9 x 7 x 5 cm

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Antimony nugget from Antimony Peak, Kern County, California, USA [db_pics/usa1/naabg.jpg]

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Antimony nugget from Antimony Peak, Kern County, California, USA [db_pics/usa1/nac.jpg]

A REALLY HEFTY nugget of solid, pure antimony from a classic old US locale. These turn up in museum collections, this one in fact being an exchange out of a major old collection assembled in the late 1800s and early 1900s (T.H. Cole). It is REALLY hefty - shockingly so, in your hand, at 869 grams. Although not for everybody's display collection, this is definitely something unusual, and interesting.

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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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