** Updated 7/5/2011 with NEW Exceptional Specimens! **
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MIN#EXCEPTIONAL-1 NEW!
Incredibly rare specimen featuring Native
Silver wires atop Sulfide matrix with Quartz!
This is the rarest Silver I've owned! This incredibly aesthetic specimen is from the
original Silver workings
in the California Gulch near Leadville, California! The earliest Silvers that were
mined consisted of fine
wires but later ores were of a lower quality and the wires all but disappeared. The above
specimen is
definately from the early mining period and I've never seen another Leadville Silver that
even comes
close to its quality. Interestingly enough, the town of Leadville was built on Silver and
Gold mining but
later made a living from Lead and Molybdenite. Today, not much is happening but the town
still thrives.
(Special note: The specimen has been tested and verified as
Leadville by Dr. Terry Wallace - Univ. of Arizona)
Circa 1870's - 1880's - From the California Gulch Area, Leadville,
Lake County, Colorado.
It measures 5 cm by 5.7 cm by 4.4 cm in total size.
Ex. Davidson, Raabe, Graeber Mineral Collections
From the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Comes with a custom made, labeled stand.
Price $25,000
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EXCEPTIONAL!! A stunning Walworth
Fluorite with Calcite on Dolomite to begin the Tucson 2011 updates!
This amazing Fluorite specimen was offered to me
during the Westward Show and gathered quite a crowd
when others saw it. The Fluorite is an elongated cube measuring nearly 4 cm in length! It
is completely
pristine with a gemmy blue interior, glassy faces, and modified corners (typical of
Walworth crystals).
To top it all off, there is also an internal rainbow which is probably caused by a
transparent inclusion
of Selenite near the left corner. The above photograph shows part of the rainbow and it
grows more
intense as the specimen is rotated. I can count the number of great Walworth Fluorites
I've seen on just
two hands and this is both the finest and largest of them all. A rare opportunity
for the Fluorite collector!
From the Walworth Quarry, Walworth, Wayne County, New York.
Measures 6 cm by 6.1 cm by 6.2 cm in total size.
Ex. David Kords Mineral Collection
Price $8500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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Gorgeous tabs of Golden Barite atop
cream-colored Calcite blades!
This is quite the cabinet sized plate. The crystals
are all complete with full terminations
on the front side and display an incredible amount of golden flash. The backside of the
the crystals are incomplete where the specimen was separated from the host rock but
this doesn't detract and is pretty much the norm with large, flat plates. An excellent
example of the Meikle Mine combinations that appeared five or six years ago.
From the Meikle Mine, Elko County, Nevada.
Measures 14 cm by 12.5 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Mineral Collection
Price $4500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#EXCEPTIONAL-4 NEW!
Exceptional cluster of gorgeous Red Beryl
crystals in and atop Rhyolite matrix!
Honestly, Red Beryl clusters of this quality are so rare that I can count the number of
them
that I've seen on just one hand. This ranks as one of the finest with gemmy tipped
crystals
and super glassy faces. I owned this specimen some years ago and I'm very pleased to
have it back on the website for the second time. This is truely a unique opportunity.
From the Wah Wah Mountains near Delta, Utah
Measures 6.4 cm by 5.2 cm by 5.2 cm with 1.6 cm and 1.3 cm Red Beryl crystals.
Ex. Kevin Ward, Ferris Mineral Collections
Price $35,000
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Incredibly rich plate of bronze colored
Calaverite blades on purple Fluorite drusy!
Without a doubt, this is the richest Calaverite specimen I've ever seen from Cripple
Creek. The
shiny, flattened blades cover nearly the entire surface and extend down the sides and even
appear
on the bottom of this purple Fluorite drusy covered matrix! Calaverite is a rare Telluride
and is
a mix of Native Gold and Tellurium. Most of the time, it appears as a silvery or light
yellowish
color but these blades are a bright golden-bronze, indicating a higher ratio of Gold. The
purple
Fluorite drusy adds a gorgeous contrast to the golden blades with some Quartz included in
the mix.
From the Ajax Mine, Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller
County, Colorado.
Measures 6.4 cm by 8.3 cm by 3.1 cm in size.
Ex. Robert Whitmore, Kevin Ward, Bernardi Mineral Collections
Comes with a custom made, labeled base.
Price $5500
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Impressive specimen featuring large
crystals of Native Copper!
The main crystal is the large triangular crystal on
the far left side but all the crystals
are distinct and make for a very attractive cluster. The surfaces are lustrous with an
attactive reddish-brown
patina. The above photo shows the specimen on its side but I prefer it upright with
the largest crystal at top.
From the Ahmeek Mine, Ahmeek, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan.
Measures 9.6 cm by 4.3 cm by 4.4 cm in size.
Ex. Rolf Wein Mineral Collection
Price $6500
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EXCEPTIONAL! Amazing specimen of
Native Silver with Argentite from Kongsberg!
This incredible specimen features an elogated
crystal topped by a large 2.3 cm Silver crystal!
The elongated crystal below shows the obvious influence of matrix or Calcite, giving it an
angular
appearance. The crystal at top is more textbook with well defined faces! Both are accented
by
a beautiful antiquish-golden patina which displays the age and originality of this classic
Silver.
From Saggrenda, Kongsberg Silver Mining District,
Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway.
Measures 5 cm by 2 cm by 1.7 cm in size.
Ex. Peter Farquhar Mineral Collection
Price $8500
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RARE!! Very rare specimen of twinned
Yellow Calcite crystals on Purple Fluorite!
This find occurred about 40 years ago I'm told and
very few specimens came to market.
This is the first I've ever seen and the Calcite twin is in excellent condition with
lustrous
surfaces and a gemmy internal glow! The Fluorite consists of purple cubes on matrix
and
they offer the perfect contrasting backdrop. A rare opportunity for Fluorite collectors
alike!
From Melchor Muzquiz, Mun. de Melchor Muzquiz, Coahuila,
Mexico.
Measures 8 cm by 7.2 cm with a nearly 6 cm Calcite twin!
Price $3500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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MIN#EXCEPTIONAL-9 NEW!
Classic and very rare specimen of lustrous
gray Acanthite crystals with Chalcopyrite on matrix!
The largest crystal in the middle measures 1.8 cm in length! The remainder of this very
rich
Silver Sulfide is covered with smaller Acanthites and patches of iridescent Chalcopyrite.
From the Eldorado Mine, Port Radium, Mackenzie District,
Northwest Territories, Canada.
(This locality was discovered in 1900 and mined as a source of Silver and Radium in the
1930's.
It was dewatered in 1976 and mined again for its Silver and Copper reserves before closing
for
good in 1982. The mine and its settlement were destroyed by fire and no longer exist
today.)
Circa 1930's - Measures 4.7 cm by 5.2 cm in size.
Ex. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences Collection
Ex. Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $8500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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EXCEPTIONAL COPPER!! Bright, lustrous
crystals of Native Copper!
A stunning cluster of Copper crystals with a super
shiny surface and lustrous
faces. There's a combination of Quartz, Calcite, and Epidote accenting between
and atop several of the well formed crystals. No damage to speak of and one of
the prettiest patinas I've seen in a long time on a Michigan Copper specimen.
From the Calumet & Hecla Mine, Calumet, Houghton
County, Michigan.
Circa late 1890's - Measures 6.5 cm by 4.1 cm by 3.2 cm in size.
Comes with a custom made, engraved base
Price $4500
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Amazing cabinet plate of purple
Fluorite with blades of white Barite!
This is the most impressive Berbes Fluorite-Barite
plate I've seen in years - probably
since the early 2000's. Most of these dried up and disappeared from the market in recent
years but then I discovered this large plate and was amazed at the aesthetics and
overall
excellent condition! Except for a tiny break, the Barite blades are intact and undamaged
and that's pretty amazing in itself. The Fluorite is more of a raspberryish-purple which
I prefer and the luster could best be described at satiny. This plate is a true
centerpiece.
From Berbes, Berbes Mining Area, Ribadesella, Asturias,
Spain.
Measures 13 cm by 15.5 cm in size.
Price $3850
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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NEW FIND! Interesting mix of
Allargentum with Dyscrasite, Schachnerite, and Native Silver!
I cherry picked the group that appeared in Tucson
for the most aesthetic specimens from this
new find and this was one of the most impressive small cabs. This highly lustrous cluster
of
Silver crystals is very dendritic in appearance and looks something like a pine
tree growing
alongside a cliff of white Calcite. In my opinion, this was the best looking piece in this
size range.
From the Bouismas Mine, Bou Azzer District, Ouarzazate
Province of Morocco.
Measures 7 cm by 6.8 cm by 5 cm in size.
Price $5500
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LARGE CABINET!! Exceptional specimen
of Orange Creedite crystal balls in cluster!
One of the finest and largest Orange Creedite
crystal ball clusters you'll see anywhere!
Orange Creedite is actually rarer than the more famous Purple Creedite and very few
specimens are as aesthetic and damage free as this one. Many if not most of the crystals
on the outer edges of each ball are gemmy and nearly all are terminated. This would make
an incredible centerpiece for any fine mineral collection. A true museum quality specimen.
From Mina Navidad, Durango, Mexico.
Measures 19.5 cm by 28 cm by 12 cm in size.
Ex. Vorpahl Mineral Collection
Price $6500
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Gorgeous bi-colored Kunzite-Triphane
crystal with dark Smoky Quartz and Schorl on Albite!
A wonderful specimen featuring a doubly terminated Kunzite crystal which slowly
evolves
into a Triphane near the bottom termination as the vibrant hot-pink coloration changes to
a greenish-yellow hue. The top termination is textbook and perfect with a glassy surface
to match the glassy, striated sides on the 7.5 cm gem crystal. Dark crystals of Smoky
Quartz accent the edge and backside of the crystal with a couple emerging from within
the crystal itself. Black Schorl Tourmaline also joins in and in present among the Quartz.
From Paprok, Nuristan Province of Afghanistan.
Measures 10 cm by 8.2 cm by 5.3 cm in total size.
Price $7500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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SUPERB!! Sharp crystals of Acanthite and
curling Native Silver wires!
Both Silver minerals sit atop a matrix of Quartz with Quartz crystal sprays.
The Acanthite crystals are so incredibly sharp and lustrous that at first glance, one
might not even notice the small "ram's horn" Silver located on the far right
side of
the specimen! Acanthite and Silver combos from Mexico are rarely seen at the shows.
From the Reyes Mine in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Measures 5 cm by 3 cm by 2.5 cm in total size.
Price $2850
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GEMMY cystals of bluish-lavender
Fluorite cubes with purple accenting with Quartz on Muscovite!
An incredible plate of pure gem and flash! The
Fluorites are modified at the corners and exhibit
color shifts as you peer down into the gemmy interiors to see the underlying matrix. These
color
shifts consist of internal purple phantoms and mirroring along some scattered internal
craze lines.
The Fluorite crystals are surrounded by terminated and included Quartz points and all sit
atop
Muscovite. In excellent condition overall with virtually pristine Fluorites and glassy
crystal faces!
From the Yaogangxian Mine, Hunan Province of China.
Measures 12 cm by 14 cm in size.
Price $3500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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RARE!!! Very rare specimen featuring a
large Yellow Topaz crystal with Quartz on matrix!
An amazing old time classic from the world famous
Schneckenstein locality! I've seen a handful
of these in the past decade and this is by far the largest and most impressive specimen.
Most
Topaz crystals I see from Schneckenstein are 1 cm in size or smaller but this
terminated gem
measures 2.7 cm or more than a full inch! The color is a deep gemmy yellow and the
termination
is pristine. A terminated Quartz crystal lays across the top of the Topaz. By the way,
this crystal
has not been replaced or glued back into the matrix. It is completely natural and
untampered with.
The Schneckenstein Topaz locale is now off limits to collection and most fine specimen
like this
one were collected a long time ago. This specimen dates back to the early 1800's or late
1700's!
From the Schneckenstein cliff (Königskrone Topaz Mine),
Kielberg, Klingenthal, Saxony, Germany.
Measures 6 cm by 6.8 cm by 3.5 cm in size.
Ex. Siegbert Zecha Mineral Collection
Price $5500
To Order
This Specimen, Please Click Here! |
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