The Denver Show 2009 Mineral Rooms!
* Updated November 8th, 2009 *
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-141 NEW!
EXCEPTIONAL!! Classic specimen of
crystalline drusy Azurite over Malachite!
This is easily my favorite look when it comes to Azurite specimens from Bisbee. I enjoy
the larger
crystals like everyone else, but the color of these botryoidal Azurites with sparkling
micro-xls over
green Malachite always catches my eye first! This specimen also has a lighter blue layer
of
botryoidal Azurite beneath the drusy surface and a small patch shows through at the very
top
where the drusy growth never quite completed its coverage. Circa late 1880-1890s!
From the Lavender Pit, Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona.
Measures 6.5 cm by 10.2 cm by 6.7 cm in size.
Ex. Robert Whitmore Collection
Current in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $9500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-142 SOLD!
EXCEPTIONAL!! Gorgeous miniature featuring
deeply colored and very gemmy Hessonite Garnets!
The Garnets are so glassy and perfectly formed that they look faceted! The color is also
very deep
and much stronger than what I normally see from the Jeffrey Mine. The smaller Garnets
scattered
about the dark matrix add an additional flash and sparkle to what is already an incredible
specimen!
From the Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada.
Measures 5 cm by 4.9 cm in size.
Ex. Revelle Mineral Collection
Price $5500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-143 NEW!
Fine blades of Erythrite climbing up and
over matrix with Quartz!
A very pretty specimen in arrangement, these are upright standing blades which are
always more desirable. Also, only a few have bending which is amazing considering the
number of blades. A small cluster of Quartz crystals accents the lower left side.
From Bou Azzer, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate Province, Morocco.
Measures 4 cm by 6.2 cm in size.
Price $585
 |
Gorgeous yellow crystals of Anglesite
in cluster!
Gemmy, glassy, and intensely yellow best describes
these terminated Anglesite crystals!
They sit atop a matrix covered by dark Galena drusy and the contrast is stunning. I
consider
the bright canary-yellow to be the finest color to appear from Touissit and this specimen
was found in the early 1980's. The largest crystal on the far left is Galena included and
measures right at 5 cm in length. The other two gemmy crystals are 2.8 cm and 3 cm each!
From Touissit, Oujda-Angad Province, Oriental Region,
Morocco.
Measures 5.4 cm by 7.2 cm in size.
Ex. Bernardi Mineral Collection
Comes with a custom made, engraved base.
Price $4500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-145 NEW!
Superb small miniature featuring Native
Copper spinels atop Cuprite crystals!
They look like Pine Trees perched atop a reddish mountain! The "trees" are
actually
Native Copper spinel crystals studded by smaller Native Copper crystals along the sides
and edges. Both sit atop a cluster of shiny-red triangular Cuprite crystals. A stunning
piece!
From Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona.
Measures 4 cm by 2.3 cm in total size.
Ex. Dirk Rheinlander Mineral Collection
Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Comes with an old handwritten Staatl.
Mineralien-Niederlage, Freiberg, Sa. label
Price $2450
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-146 NEW!
RARE AND UNIQUE EMERALD SPECIMEN!!!
Possibly, the only Emerald specimen ever discovered twice! The history of this specimen is
pretty amazing
and could easily be the subject of a magazine article! The specimen was originally mined
in the early 1700's
by Spanish explorers in Colombia. Oddly enough, when the specimen was discovered in the
mine, the
crystals weren't removed from the matrix as all Emeralds were in those days. The Spanish
owner of the
piece apparently felt the crystals looked better on the host rock, perhaps making him one
of the first
mineral collectors. It's also possible that this was a presentation piece for the King.
Whatever the reason,
the specimen was taken aboard the Capitana (flag ship) El Rubí for journey to Spain in
1733 along with many
other valuables from South America. Unfortunately, the ship sailed into a hurricane and
became grounded
just inside the reef line northeast of Upper Matecumbe Key in the Florida Keys. Since the
ship had been
taking on water prior to being grounded, most escaped and there was very little loss of
life. Afterwards,
the Commander of the fleet, General Rodrigo de Torres, ordered that the survivors build
two forts on Upper
Matecumbe Key to guard the King's treasure. They were able to salvage most of the bullion
and other
valuables from the shipwreck but this Emerald specimen and seven boxes of coins and copper
eluded them.
Now jump ahead 205 years to the year 1938. In was in that
year that fisherman Reggie Roberts took diver
Art McKee to the shipwreck site located in 27 feet of water. The remains of the El Rubí
was one of the
first of the 1733 fleet to be rediscovered in modern times and McKee worked the site for
over a decade,
removing coins, jewelry, cannon, religious artifacts, navigational instruments, and this
beautiful green
Emerald specimen. He kept the specimen in his collection for the duration of his life and
it was only
recently sold by his family. The specimen itself is impressive with its two glassy green
Emerald crystals,
one measuring 1.6 cm and the other 3.0 cm in size. Small Pyrite crystals accent the matrix
near the
Emeralds. Even more impressive is the story and history behind the specimen. It may truely
be the
only mineral specimen that's ever been discovered twice - once on land and once in the
sea!
From Muzo, Colombia (Circa early 1700) - to the Capitana (flag ship) El Rubí (1733)
Measures 3.5 cm by 5 cm by 4.2 cm in size. Weight exceeds 50 carats.
Ex. Arthur McKee Collection
Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $12,500
 |
MIN#Denver2009-147 NEW!
Colorful specimen featuring large
Sphalerite crystals (blackjacks) with iridescent Chalcopyrites!
Both sit atop a while Dolomite matrix. No damage to speak of here but lots of color for
sure.
Golds, reds, and purples from the Chalcopyrites light up the Sphalerite like a Christmas
tree!
From the Tri-State District, Ballard Mine, Baxter Springs, Picher Field, Cherokee County,
Kansas.
Measures 4.3 cm by 5.1 cm by 4.8 cm in size.
Price $385
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-148 SOLD!
Stunning combination of Fluorite,
Sphalerite and Barite!
One of the better combos I've seen recently from the Elmwood Mine! Every collector looks
for these classic combination specimens of Fluorite, Sphalerite, and Barite but attractive
specimens
like this one just aren't that easy to find. This piece has large, nearly transparent
lavender Fluorite
crystals which are complete with very little in the way of "chatter". The
beautiful Barite clusters
and shiny, reddish-brown Sphalerite crystals complete the specimen with an attractive
balance!
From the Elmwood Mine, Smith County, Tennessee.
Measures 8.4 cm by 10.3 cm in size.
Price $3500
 |
MIN#Denver2009-149 NEW!
Lustrous specimen of reddish-purple
Smithsonite on matrix!
A beautiful specimen with flashy, undamaged surfaces and a gorgeous color!
From the El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Measures 10.1 cm by 7.9 cm in size.
Price $585
 |
MIN#Denver2009-150 NEW!
Brilliant sprays of chatoyant Malachite!
The luster of this specimen is amazing and the formation of sprays upon sprays is
equally as beautiful. I believe these sprays are primary Malachite and not ps after
Azurite.
From the Emke Mine, Ogonja, Khomas Region, Namibia.
Measures 5.3 cm by 2.3 cm in size.
Price $245
 |
MIN#Denver2009-151 NEW!
Impressive specimen of Cadmium
Smithsonite!
Yellow is one of the rarest colors of Smithsonite and I don't come specimens of cabinet
size very often. This plate has lustrous, botryoidal surfaces with no surface contacts to
speak of!
From the El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Measures 8.9 cm by 10.8 cm in size.
Price $1750
 |
MIN#Denver2009-152 NEW!
Terminated blade of Wolframite on Quartz
points with Fluorite, Dolomite, and Muscovite!
The Wolframite blade has two irregular terminations - actually natural breaks that
rehealed in the mine. Both are partially covered with Muscovite and Dolomite crystals.
From the Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan Province of China.
Measures 6.7 cm by 4.2 cm by 5.2 cm in size.
Price $285
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-153 NEW!
Gorgeous cluster of Golden-Purple Fluorite
cubes with Strontianite spray filled vugs!
The zoning is very evident in these lustrous cubes, as is the secondary growth which
gives the Fluorites a scalloped appearance in places. The Strontianite sprays have been
etched down to thin sprays inside vugs. The vugs were originally filled with much larger
sprays.
From the Minerva #1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois.
Measures 6.2 cm by 6.4 cm in size.
Price $685
 |
MIN#Denver2009-154 NEW!
Pretty specimen of Turquoise-colored
Smithsonite!
A pleasing specimen with tighter botryoidal mounds and a fine, glossy surface.
A tiny crack runs from around the center towards the lower right but this is a natural
feature
and does not go through to the backside which is very solid. No surface contacts to
speak of.
From the El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Measures 7.8 cm by 12.2 cm in size.
Price $485
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-155 NEW!
Large, impressive crystal of Pink
Grossular Garnet on smaller Garnets!
The top Garnet is nearly perfect and complete with a beautiful rosey-pink color!
I only see only tiny corner bump on the backside of this 5.2 cm crystal!
From Sierra de la Cruz, Mun. de Sierra Mojada, Coahuila, Mexico.
Measures 5.5 cm by 6 cm in size.
Price $585
 |
MIN#Denver2009-156 NEW!
Beautifully lustrous, forest-green colored
Smithsonite!
A very attractive and 3-dimensional specimen, this piece actually has two colors of
green which blend into a mix of olive green and forest green. The botryoidal surfaces
scream luster as they convex and concave atop the sculptural matrix formations
beneath.
From the El Refugio Mine, Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Measures 9.5 cm by 10 cm by 5.4 cm in size.
Price $785
 |
MIN#Denver2009-157 NEW!
Fine, lustrous sky-blue blades of Kyanite
with Albite matrix from North Carolina!
A scarce locality specimen, I believe this is only the third North Carolina Kyanite
I've offered in the past twelve years and the blades are definately the largest.
From Walker Creek, Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Measures 8.8 cm by 5.2 cm in size.
Price $185
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-158 NEW!
Gorgeous plate of phantomed Amethyst crystals atop Microcline!
This piece is truely from Brandberg while most of the other specimens labeled as Brandberg
come from a nearby locality. Brandberg is a protected wildlife preserve, making specimens
rare.
The phantoms in these terminated crystals are about as purple and distinct as you'll ever
see!
 |
MIN#Denver2009-159 NEW!
Beautiful blue plate of lustrous
Hemimorphite!
It looks like Smithsonite but the color is much more intense. No contacts or damage!
From Wenshan County, Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China.
Measures 6.3 cm by 7 cm in size.
Price $285
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Denver2009-160 NEW!
Dazzling plate of shiny black Sphalerite
crystal clusters atop drusy covered matrix!
What a gorgeous large cabinet specimen! The sparkling drusy covered matrix adds a perfect
contrast to the incredibly shiny Sphalerite crystal faces. There are also some individual
crystals of
Sphalerite between the large clusters. In excellent condition with very little in the way
of contacts!
From the Elmwood Mine, Smith County, Tennessee.
Measures 14 cm by 22.5 cm by 9.5 cm in size.
Ex. Revelle Mineral Collection
Price $6500
FOR ADDITIONAL NEW SPECIMENS, GO TO Denver 2009 Room 9 !
Rhodochrosite Room | Gold Room | Silver Room | Beryl Room | Elmwood Room | Exceptional Minerals
