Selections from The Wendell Wilson Thumbnail Collections

Selections from
The Wendell Wilson Thumbnail Collections

Wendell had long been a collector, before becoming editor-in-chief of our hobby's superb journal, the Mineralogical Record. Today he specializes in thumbnails, particularly of gem crystals, and in specimens with a superior aesthetic presentation (both miniatures and thumbnails). I am honored to be able to help him cull his collection down through an exchange, and to be able to offer these for sale. Unless otherwise indicated, you can assume that all specimens are as pristine as you could reasonably expect. Even the common species are generally excellent examples that tend to be unusually fine mineral specimens for overall balance, not "just" a small rock that happens to fit in a thumbnail box. Sometiems a $100 thumbnail is as superb as can be expected for the species, and you will see such here as well as more expensive pieces. They represent the superb selections of a very well-exposed collector who has had access to many new finds and early showings over the years!

US$ € EURO ¥ YEN £ POUND CAN$ AUS$
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page 1 / 4 - 55 specimens selected - next - bottom - back to the Galleries

WW15 - Adamite - $ 250
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.2 x 2 x 1.2 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Splendid fan of thick, intergrown Adamite crystals from the world�s premier locality for the species. Both the yellow color and the glassy luster are first-rate, as are the terminations. The contact points and bit of attached matrix on the back only add to the visual appeal, bringing a bit of color and contrast. An excellent specimen.

WW23 - Serandite - $ 175
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville County, Quebec, Canada
thumbnail, 1.6 x 1.4 x .6 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Very fine single euhedral crystal with excellent pearly luster and the classic salmon color that MSH Serandites are so well-known for. The beveled edges add to the nice aesthetics. It is unusual to find a single so well formed.

WW38 - Pyromorphite - $ 250
Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Couer d�Alene District, Shoshone County, Idaho, USA
thumbnail, 2.5 x 2 x 1.8 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Beautiful specimen of Arsenian Pyromorphite showing the classic deep orange color. The crystals (up to 1.2 cm) have excellent luster, but what is most interesting is that the classic hexagonal prisms are beginning to be overgrown with the well-known Arsenian ball-shaped habit. This makes for an interesting, unusual, and very aesthetic specimen with way more pizzazz than most Bunker Hill thumbnails.

WW16 - Wulfenite - $ 450
Kuruktag Mountains, Xinjiang Uygur, China
thumbnail, 2.5 x 2 x 1.8 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Lovely cluster of well-defined Wulfenite blades (largest crystal about .7 cm on edge) from one of the best new localities in the world. The crystals have superb luster and color on the front side, with the backs having a very unusual preferential white coating that adds color and contrast. As with virtually all Wulfenite specimens, there is some blade damage that just blends right in without even being noticed - and here it is really minimal from the front. Overall, an attractive and aesthetic specimen tha tmost of us who saw hundreds of these regarded as the bet thumbnail of the find present at Tucson.

WW44 - Hydroxlherderite - $ 250
Barra de Salinas Mine, Barra de Salinas, Coronel Murta, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil
thumbnail, 2.6 x 2.1 x .8 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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An excellent crystal of hydroxlherderite sitting on a matrix of albite and mica. Not only does the crystal have a good light purple color and nice luster (especially on the back faces), but the hydroxlherderite is doubly-terminated. This is an unusually sharp crystal for the species, and a fine specimen overall.

WW11 - Anglesite - $ 1750
Touissit Mine, Oujda, Province, Morocco
thumbnail, 2.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Anglesite from Touissit Mine, Oujda, Province, Morocco [db_pics/pics/ww11a.jpg]

Anglesite from Touissit Mine, Oujda, Province, Morocco [db_pics/pics/ww11a.jpg]

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Anglesite from Touissit Mine, Oujda, Province, Morocco [db_pics/pics/ww11b.jpg]

Anglesite from Touissit Mine, Oujda, Province, Morocco [db_pics/pics/ww11b.jpg]

A resplendent crystal of yellow gemmy Anglesite sitting attractively on matrix makes this piece such an incredibly balanced thumbnail! The upper third is perfectly gemmy (better than the photos can show becaus eof light refractions), and the luster is absolutely glassy and mirror-like. It is also nice to see such a good specimen of Anglesite in the more tabular habit as usually they taper off to a point...this is more uncommon. Very aesthetic, very juicy, and just a perfect balance for the size, in a competition-quality thumbnail specimen.

WW54 - Schorl - $ 50
Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia
thumbnail, 2.5 x 2 x 1.5 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Schorl from Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia [db_pics/pics/ww54a.jpg]

Schorl from Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia [db_pics/pics/ww54a.jpg]

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Schorl from Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia [db_pics/pics/ww54b.jpg]

Schorl from Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia [db_pics/pics/ww54b.jpg]

Lovely single crystal of Schorl on matrix. The jet-black color, luster, and surface striations are superb. A very fine large thumbnail.

WW51 - Grossular Garnet - SOLD
Sierra de los Cruces, Mun. de Sierra Mujada, Coahuila, Mexico
thumbnail, 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.3 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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From the famous Mexican discovery, these famous red garnets have graced many important collections. This superb dodecahedron, .7 cm across and having excellent luster, sits perfectly atop the quartz matrix. A wonderful thumb.

WW39 - Whiteite - SOLD
Rapid Creek, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada
thumbnail, 2.3 x 1.5 x 1.3 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Outstanding single crystal (1.1 cm long and wide!) perched beautifully on matrix. The hexagonal barrel is attractively curved along the C-axis, and the luster is very good for the species. This is as sharp a Whiteite as I have seen.

WW56 - Calcite - SOLD
North Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana, USA
thumbnail, 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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A splendid Calcite from one of the U.S.�s best Calcite localities. This amber-colored highly-modified crystal sits on a small amount of matrix, and is a full 2 cm across. Perhaps the most telling feature is that the faces range from those that exhibit a delicate rippled/frosted appearance to those that are window-clear. Take a peak into those, and you will see that the entire crystal is gem-clear. Amazing!

WW57 - Demantoid Garnet - SOLD
Thetford, Quebec, Canada
thumbnail, 2.7 x 2 x 1.3 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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I should say up front that Wendell considered this and I like to think thought it worthy; but the purchase was put off in part because of the large exchange we made for another specimen. This wasn't in his collection - but as he specializes in garnets, I had purchased this with him in mind when the pocket became available at Tucson this year. Then I lost track of it as it was in with these pieces....and so it remains available! This is one of the fantastic new garnets written up in the What's New from Tucson report recently, by Tom Moore. It is an exquisite pair of highly modified Demantoid Garnets that mirror each other and grow around a small core of tiny Demantoids. The larger crystals are blue-green, partially gemmy, and highly lustrous. THE COLOR AND BRILLIANCE DOES NOT COME THROUGH HERE! THIS IS A DRAMATICALLY SHOWY DEMANTOID, WITH MUCH BETTER COLOR IN PERSON...Quality Demantoids are very rarely seen in this size, color, or brightness. A great thumbnail from a rare locality as reported in the recent issue of the Mineralogical Record, as I said. I believed this to be, for my taste, the best of the lot. I should point out that the crystal size is remarkable for the locality, aside from the sheer beauty of it.

WW37 - Elbaite - SOLD
Palelni Mine, Khetchel Village, Momeik Township, Shan State, Myanmar
thumbnail, 2.2 x 1.9 x .8 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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This is really quite an amazing Elbaite. The crystal consists of a lustrous and gemmy raspberry red Elbaite overgrowth on a schorl core. The form and aesthetics of the overall piece are incredible, as if it was something out of an enchanted forest. BEST QUALITY I HAVE EVER SEEN IN A MOGOK TOURMALINE, of any size!

WW36 - Vauxite - SOLD
Huanuni Mine, Oruru Dept., Bolivia
thumbnail, 2.7 x 2.3 x .8 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Superb specimen of the rare phosphate mineral, Vauxite. The crust of sharp lustrous microcrystals has exactly the deep-blue color so sought after in this species. An aesthetic desirable thumbnail for its 3-dimensional form and the intense color combined with sharp crystallization.

WW35 - Spodumene var. Kunzite - SOLD
Katerina Mine, Hiriart Mountain, Pala District, San Diego County, California, USA
miniature, 3.2 x 1.6 x .6 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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Very nice, gemmy Kunzite with good luster and consistent pink color throughout the crystal. Twinned. A good specimen from a rare locality which does not often produce kunzite of such intense color!

WW34 - Schorl - SOLD
Erongo Mountains, Usakos and Omaruru Districts, Erongo Region, Namibia
miniature, 3.7 x 3.5 x 3.1 cm

ex. Wendell E. Wilson

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As schorls go, this is quite lovely. The main crystal, 1.8 cm in length, is jet-black with mirror-like luster and sharp edges. Sitting on a matrix of smoky quartz crystals, it is quite aesthetic.

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