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** Updated 8/3/2009 with New Exceptional Specimens! **

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MIN#EM-166 NEW!

EXCEPTIONAL!! GEM crystal of intensly colored Beryl var. Morganite from California!
By far, this is the finest Morganite I've seen from San Diego County! The faces are facet-like
and glassy with an intense peachy-pink color that jumps out from the crystal! I've seen many
California Morganites but this one is a special piece - both in terms of color and clarity. The
crystal form is excellent as well. This 5 cm gem crystal sits atop a matrix of Cleavelandite,
Tourmaline, and purple Lepidolite. The crystal is so gemmy that one can easily see through
to the matrix underneath. The front crystal face also exhibits an amazing facet-like surface
that is incredibly rare and something I've only seen on a few very unique Beryl specimens.
The printed page from Barlow's book illustrates this feature from a different photographic
angle. The color in the book photo isn't very good but the growth lines are quite visible.

From the Stewart Mine, Pala, San Diego County, California.
Measures 9.8 cm by 7.5 cm in total size.

Ex. F. J. Barlow (Page 137 in his book from 1998), Lawrence Conklin Mineral Collections
Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $22,500

 

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Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#EM-168 SOLD!

NEW FIND!!! Appearing at the Houston Show - Celestite crystals with Sulfur inclusions!
I purchased a small collection of the these incredible specimens at the show. The crystals
on this specimen are perched atop matrix and shoot out in all directions with glassy tips
which are fully terminated. The yellowish Sulfur inclusions are also quite visible just
beneath the surface. The story behind this find - These specimens were collected in
1962 by Oz Krebs in Libya. They were apparently held in private for over 40 years
and just released recently to the market. The small flat I purchased are among the best.
From Jabal al Akhdar, Cyrenaica, Libya.
Measures 5.8 cm by 4.2 cm in size.

Price $1250

 

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Photo by Joe Budd

MIN#EM-169 SOLD!

Gorgeous plate of thick tabular orange Wulfenite on Descloizite coated Calcite matrix!
What a beautiful specimen! The plate is virtually pristine with no damage and lustrous
Wulfenite crystals of various shapes and sizes. The crystals sit atop a natural surface of
green Descloizite over Calcite which I feel makes for a wonderful color combination. Many
of these have the Descloizite removed to expose the white Calcite but I like this method
of display better. There's one area near the top where a single crystal was removed that
want to make mention of. I didn't even notice it at first because it's so well done and it
could be trimmed away if so desired. I consider it to be of little importance to the specimen.
It's easier to see in the above photograph and much less noticeable in person. Wulfenite
specimens of this size with pristine crystals and no scuffs are virtually impossible to find!

From the Los Lamentos Mine, Mun. de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Measures 7.2 cm by 9.7 cm in size.

Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $10,500

 

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MIN#EM-170 NEW!

Lustrous Native Silver Wires atop Acanthite crystals!
Stunning specimen featuring wires which rise 3.5 cm above the Acanthite host!
I saw some earlier wispy specimens of this material but these recent specimens
are much more impressive with larger and thicker wires up to 2 mm in width!

From the Imiter Mine, Ouarzazate Province, Morocco.
Measures 5.2 cm by 3.8 cm in size.

Price $2450

 

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MIN#EM-171 NEW!

Superb specimen of large Pyromorphite crystals!
Very impressive specimen featuring lustrous crystals which rise as high as 3 cm above
the matrix! The slightly greenish but mostly yellow crystal faces are sharp and glassy.
All are terminated and I only see a couple of small crystals missing on the backside.

From the Jersey Vein, 9 Level, Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Shoshone County, Idaho.
Measures 3.5 cm by 4.8 cm in size.

Ex. Mine Owner's Collection
Price $2850

 

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MIN#EM-172 NEW!

Lustrous Native Silver Wires atop Acanthite crystals!
Stunning specimen featuring wires which rise 3.4 cm above the Acanthite host!
I saw some earlier wispy specimens of this material but these recent specimens
are much more impressive with larger and thicker wires - up to 4 mm in width!

From the Imiter Mine, Ouarzazate Province, Morocco.

Measures 5 cm by 3.6 cm by 3.8 cm in size.
Price $4850

 

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MIN#EM-173 NEW!

Gold Rush specimen of Native Gold!
Classic specimen of completely crystalline Native Gold from the 1850's -1870's Gold Rush
period of California's history! This specimen was mined after the earliest placer period of Gold
discovery because it is crystalline and is probably from the underground mining that followed shortly
after the initial panning days of the Gold Rush. There is no water wear or friction - only hundreds of
fine crystals! There's also a 1.2 cm spinel-law crystal on the far left side (at 10:00 - 11:00 o'clock).
Mixed in among the numerous crystals of Native Gold are Quartz fragments and Sphalerite.

From the Mother Lode period (1850's to 1870's) of Calaveras County, California.
Measures 5.2 cm by 3.3 cm by 3.2 cm in size. Weighs 71.8 grams.

Ex. Schwethelm (circa 1940-1950's), Bruce Mineral Collections
Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $7500

 

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MIN#EM-174 SOLD!

GEMMY Brazilianite crystal with Muscovite with Albite!!
Superb combination specimen featuring a doubly terminated gem Brazilianite "diamond"
perched atop lustrous Albite crystals with a terminated Muscovite blade at the top!
The Brazilianite crystal measures 2 cm and features the rare diamond shape that I see
very rarely on only the older find specimens. It is incredibly glass-like and gemmy and
the light dances wildly across the crystal face striations as illustrated by the above photo.

From the old finds at Corrego Frio, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Measures 5.7 cm by 3.7 cm in size.

Ex. Jeremy Smith Collection
Price $2500

 

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MIN#EM-176 SOLD!

Superb combination featuring a Rubellite Tourmaline and Lepidolite crystal on matrix!
I love the look of this combo! The 5 cm long Rubellite is perfectly terminated on the right
side and crudely terminated on the left (matrix influenced). Above the Rubellite is a 1 cm
crystal of purple Lepidolite which provides the perfect companion to this amazing miniature!

From the Stewart Mine, Pala, San Diego County, California.
Measures 6 cm by 5.3 cm in size.

Currently in the Kevin Ward Mineral Collection
Price $4500

 

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MIN#EM-177 SOLD!

Large cabinet Stibnite sword!
Super lustrous and very long - this perfectly terminated Stibnite crystal measures 43.4 cm in length!
That equates to 17 inches! There is also very little in the way of bruising along the length of this
sword which is very unusual for a Stibnite crystal of this size. Usually, Stibnite bruises easily and
most specimens have quite a bit of chatter or visible damage. This crystal was preserved very well.
And did I mention that the termination tip is pristine and perfect? That's amazing in itself.

From the Wuling Antimony Mine, Wuning County, Jiangxi Province of China.
Measures 43.4 cm in length and an average of 1.5 cm in thickness.

Ex. Matthew Webb Collection
Price $4500

 

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MIN#EM-178 NEW!

Cabinet plate of orange Quartz crystals in cluster!
These are some of my favorite Quartz specimens but rarely appear on the market these days.
I found this large plate in Tucson and was happy to see that nearly every Quartz was complete
and terminated. Each point is further accented by a coating of white Quartz near the base and a
scattering of micro-Pyrite crystals. An VERY impressive plate in extraordinarily fine condition!

From 2nd Sovietski Mine in Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia.

Measures 12 cm by 13.7 cm in size.
Price $3500

 

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MIN#EM-179 NEW!

Choice combination of lustrous Dioptase crystals in cluster with a Cerussite!
Not only beautiful but also quite rare - the Dioptase crystals are pristine with full
terminations and incredible glossy faces. The largest of these measures just shy of
2 cm in length and all are accenting by a sparkling Calcitic drusy down the center
and along the edges. The Cerussite crystal at top right measures 1.5 cm and is
complete with a slightly smoky coloration. The faces are gemmy and full of sheen.
I might also point out that the backside is covered by smaller Dioptase crystals.

From the Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Namibia, SW Africa.
Measures 5.5 cm by 4 cm in size.

Ex. Matthew Webb Collection
Price $5500

 

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MIN#EM-180 NEW!

Exceptional and very rare specimen of Beryl var. Morganites with an enhydro!
Superb California Morganite specimen featuring two glassy Morganites which gradually shift
towards Goshenite near the Albite matrix. The largest crystal measures 4.5 cm by 4.2 cm in size
and features a large and quite easy to move water bubble (enhydro) just under the surface. I love
enhydro specimens and always find them fascinating. It's amazing how a drop of water can become
entrapped over the many years it takes for a large Beryl to grow and completely encase it. This
enhydro is easily rolled back and forth by tipping the specimen. The color shift from Morganite
to Goshenite is also rare and unusual. The underlying matrix is mainly Albite and Smoky Quartz.

From the Oceanview Mine, San Diego County, California.
Measure
s 10.8 cm by 7.2 cm by 8.3 cm in total size.
Ex. Bill Larson Collection
Price $6500

 

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MIN#EM-181 NEW!

Exceptional specimen featuring a huge Lazurite crystal with Pyrite on Marble matrix!
Superb specimen boasting an 8 cm crystal of dark blue Lazurite. The matrix is a mix of white
Marble, Pyrite, and Muscovite and provides the perfect background for the Lazurite. Overall,
the crystal is in excellent condition with no bumps or contacts. The only area of slight incompleteness
is on the very bottom of the matrix where the specimen was trimmed. This does not detract at all.

From the Koksha Valley, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Measures 9 cm by 11.4 cm by 8.2 cm in size.

Ex. Steve Neely Mineral Collection
Price $7500

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