New Specimens from Denver Show 2007!
* Updated 11/12/2007 *

MIN#DENVER2007-201 NEW!

Large cabinet sized specimen of very vibrant blue Azurite with Malachite!
This was one of the first mineral specimens in my own personal collection. I sold it years
ago and was very happy to find it again last year. A little bit of trimming and cleaning
and here it is again on the website. I was always impressed with the sparkle and color
of this thick specimen of solid Azurite. I also love the fact that it has its own crystal
filled vugs and seams, showing the geology of the Bisbee locality. It isn't perfect and does
have some scattered contacts and incomplete crystals but I think it's a special piece.
The photo above says it all I think. It just displays beautifully - better than most.
From the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona.
Measures 18.4 cm by 16 cm by 15.5 cm in size.
Ex. Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Comes with a custom made, labeled base.
Price $8500

MIN#DENVER2007-202 NEW!

VERY RARE!! Wow, this is a matrix Rhodochrosite on Quartz from the Climax Mine!
Anyone who knows Colorado minerals and Rhodochrosite knows just how rare matrix
Climax pieces are - especially one that has large crystals. I've seen two on the past
ten years of looking for one so I was thrilled to find this specimen. True, the Rhodos
aren't Sweet Home quality but they are very good for Colorado and display some
excellent color with glassy surfaces. The rhomb in the front has flaking and measures
4 cm while the smaller rhomb in back is complete and measures 2.5 cm in size. The
outer faces appear to be included with a Quartz drusy which is common for Climax.
I'm being very picky here considering the specimen's rarity but I want to be accurate.
From the Climax Mine, Fremont Pass, Lake County, Colorado.
Measures 5.5 cm by 7.5 cm in size.
Ex. Richard Holmes Collection
Price $3250

MIN#DENVER2007-203 NEW!

VERY RARE!! A very rare specimen of Luanheite on matrix!
Luanheite is a rare Amalgam of Native Silver and Mercury. It is usually found
in sheets and this is the first I've seen on matrix which makes it even more special
in my opinion. This specimen has been analysed and contains mostly Luanheite
with a lesser amount of Eugenite (another rare Ag-Hg Amalgam). For more info
on Luanheite, a good read about this rare Silver mineral can be found at this link!
From the Privol'noye Deposit, Central Yakutia, Russia.
Measures 10.6 cm by 5.3 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $8500

MIN#DENVER2007-204 SOLD!

EXCEPTIONAL! Beautiful cluster of glassy Calcites with yellow phantoming!
Calcites from China aren't rare these days but specimens of this quality definately
are! Look at how sharp and perfect the crystal faces are! The "starburst" yellow
phantoms inside each crystal are incredible. I must admit, this specimen impresses me.
From Hongyang, Hunan Province of China.
Measures 10.6 cm by 14.5 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $3250

MIN#DENVER2007-205 NEW!

SUPERBLY crystallized specimen of Native Copper with pinkish-orange Adularia!
The very sharp crystals of Copper exhibit a reddish-brown patina of micro-Cuprite.
From the Phoenix Mine, Keweenaw Peninsula, Keweenaw County, Michigan.
Measures 9.5 cm by 9.7 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $4850

MIN#DENVER2007-206 NEW!

EXCEPTIONAL! Huge crystals of Lazurite with Pyrite on matrix!
The top crystal measures 7.5 cm and the bottom crystal 4.2 cm! Both dodecahedrons
are sharp and well formed and contrast beautifully with the Pyrite and white matrix.
From the Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan.
Measures 11.2 cm by 13.6 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $10,500

MIN#DENVER2007-207 NEW!

SUPERB! Large, terminated crystals of pearly Adularia in cluster!
This amazing old-timer displays smooth, glassy faces with a light yellow coloration.
Each termination is complete and sharp and the side faces exhibit a slight hoppering.
Apparently these crystals grew so quickly that the centers filled in before the outer
edges could. There is no damage and the specimen is problem fee and nearly pristine!
From the Prevat Valley, Central St. Gotthard Massif, Ticino, Switzerland.
Measures 10.4 cm by 8.3 cm in size.
Ex. Dr. T. B. Wilson Collection - Circa 1850's
Ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences Collection
Price $2500

MIN#DENVER2007-208 NEW!

Gorgeous specimen of Pink Manganocalcite on Sphalerite and matrix!
Wow, the color and flash of this specimen has to be seen to be fully appreciated!
The crystals are so well formed and glassy that light literally jumps off every face.
I've seen many of these Russian Manganos but this one really impressed me!
From the Sovietskiy #2 Mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, East Siberia, Russia.
Measures 16 cm by 11 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $2750

MIN#DENVER2007-209 SOLD!

EXCEPTIONAL! Cabinet sized plate of Golden-Sea Green Barite crystals with Aragonite accents!
I love the look of this specimen! The Barite color is great and the crystals are translucent. There is
one incomplete blade on the back left side and an incomplete blade hidden out of view on the right
side but neither detract. The Aragonite "crowning" is a great touch and adds contrast to the Barite!
From Montevecchio, Arbus, Medio Campidano Province, Sardinia, Italy
Measures 9 cm by 16.5 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $6500

MIN#DENVER2007-210 NEW!

Cabinet sized plate of iridescent Native Silver (Bornite coated) on iridescent Bornite!
From the San Martin Mine, San Martin, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Measures 15.7 cm by 11 cm in size.
Price $950

MIN#DENVER2007-211 NEW!

Fine specimen of tan Calcite crystals on a sparkling Calcite cast!
I think this specimen has it all - aesthetics, great form, sharp crystals, and balance.
The addition of the Calcite cast is a bonus and makes the piece even more special.
From the Droujba Mine, Laki District, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria.
Measures 11 cm by 5.8 cm in size.
Price $985

MIN#DENVER2007-212 NEW!

Crystalline specimen of Native Leaf Gold on drusy Quartz matrix!
One of the most aesthetic Romanian Gold specimens I've come across and
it is totally crystalline! Every Gold leaf is composed of dozens of trigons which
branch out into crystals and dendritic growths below. Under a glass, the crystals
are so distinct and sharp that one can't help but be impressed! I might point out
that the color is fairly rich too since many of these specimens are pale due to
the amount of Silver mixed with the Gold. These leaves are nice and yellow!
From Rosia Montanã (Verespatak), Alba County, Romania
Measures 6.2 cm by 6.5 cm in size.
Comes with a custom made, labeled base.
Price $4850

MIN#DENVER2007-213 NEW!

WOW! Cabinet sized plate of misty-blue Barite tabs on matrix!
I think the photo says it all about this specimen. The color is great and the crystal coverage is total!
From the Teresita Mine, La Union Mercid, Spain.
Measures 10 cm by 16.7 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $2500

MIN#DENVER2007-214 SOLD!

Sharp crystals of Golden Calcite on matrix!
From a locality near Glendive, Dawson County, Montana.
Measures 6.2 cm by 6.2 cm in size.
Price $65

MIN#DENVER2007-215 SOLD!

Huge authentic Silver Bar from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha Shipwreck!
A little bit of history - The Silver ore for this bar was mined by the native inhabitants under
Spanish rule and working conditions were less than favorable. One can also imagine how many
Silver specimens were destroyed in the production of this bar but the safety of the miners and
preservation of fine specimens was not on the minds of the Spanish rulers in 1622 - the year this
bar was cast. It was hauled a great distance from the Oruro mint to Portobello, a port in modern
day Panama, and then loaded aboard the ill-fated Atocha. The Atocha later ran into bad weather
and sank off the Florida Keys on September 6th, 1622. Only 5 of 265 passengers and crew
aboard the ship survived the wreck. After the sinking, the ship was located by its still visible
mast in 55 feet of water and initial salvage attempts were undertaken. Unfortunately (or
fortunately for later historians), the divers, who could only reach the wreck by holding their
breaths, were not able to break through the hatches to remove the valuable cargo and were
forced to leave the area to obtain proper recovery equipment. While they were gone, a second
storm ravaged what remained of the shipwreck and removed all traces of its location. It remained
lost until Mel Fisher and his salvors located the remains of the ship's hull on July 20th, 1985.
Partially dated 16?? - Graded 8.0
Weight = 80 Troy Lbs and .64 Troy Ounces of 2380/2400 (99.16% pure) Silver.
Minted at the Oruro Mint (assayer's bite on left edge).
Manifest - M. Salgado to Self
Measures 38.8 cm by 14.8 cm by 8.6 cm in size.
The bar is accompanied by the original Certificate of Authenticity.
$39,500

Left side close up photo showing the assayer's bite.  The assayer's bite on the side of the bar
indicates that the bar was cast or minted at the Oururo Mint.The box near the center contains
a partial date with P16 being visible along the bottom of the box. The other two numbers in the
date (probably 21 or 22) have been worn away. A Quinto or tax stamp can be seen on the lower
left side of the bar with the"V" stamp representing the Atocha's ship master Jacobe de Vreder.

Center close-up photo showing the bar mintage number DCXCIII or bar #693. Below this number one
can see the bold fineness number IIUCCCLXXX or 2380 parts pure out of 2400. This equals 99.16%!

Right side photo showing the very bold "S penetrated by upside down V" monogram
which was the personal mark of M. Salgado. Bars were marked with this monogram
when M. Salgado was shipping silver back home to Spain for himself. Unfortunately
for him, this bar didn't make it. To the left of the monogram is a second Quinto or tax
stamp and to the lower right is a second "V" stamp for ship master Jacobe de Vreder
indicating the bar had been officially recorded in the ship manifest. I can't recall ever
seeing another Atocha bar with two "V" stamps so this may or may not be unique.

FOR ADDITIONAL NEW SPECIMENS, GO TO Denver 2007 Room 12 !

or use the DENVER 2007 UPDATE ROOM DIRECTORY

Rooms - 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

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