** Updated 4/15/2009 with New Exceptional Specimens! **
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EXCEPTIONAL PLATE OF CLASSIC
RHODOCHROSITE!
The above specimen is a Climax Mine Rhodochrosite on Quartz
point matrix!
Anyone who knows Rhodos knows just how incredibly difficult it is to find a good Climax
Rhodochrosite. Occasionally I see incomplete rhombs without matrix or even rarer - a
partial or
coated rhomb on matrix. But the holy grail for Rhodo collectors is a good sized plate of
Quartz
crystals with large, complete, deeply colored (and uncoated) rhombs and it took me over
twelve
years to find a specimen that met every one of those qualities. Quite frankly, I
haven't seen
or owned a better specimen from the Climax Mine! This specimen is so good that it could
be confused for a Sweet Home or even Pasto Bueno Rhodo but it is 100% Climax which
makes it so much rarer and all the more special. It's also in excellent condition with
only
a scattering of incomplete Quartz points to speak of and they definately don't detract!
Atop some of the points is a slight coating of Calcite which leads to the gorgeous rhombs
of Rhodochrosite which are complete and glow a translucent cherry-red. They measure
4.6 cm, 2.6 cm, and several of 1 cm in size! I count at least a dozen rhombs of various
sizes!
From the Ceresco Ridge Area of the Climax Mine, Fremont
Pass, Lake County, Colorado.
Measures 8.9 cm by 11.3 cm in total size.
Ex. Gerstley Mineral Collection
Currently in the Kevin Ward Collection of American Classics
Price $95,000
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Native Gold wire with a Gold crystal emerging from
Quartz matrix!
Impressive specimen with a lot of pizzazz! The wire itself measures a full
2.5 cm in length
and features a small Gold crystal attached to its right side. Cute specimen and quite
scarce!
From the Pamour Mine, Porcupine Camp, Cochrane District,
Ontario, Canada.
Measures 5.8 cm by 3.4 cm in size.
Ex. Van Cleave
Mineral Collection
Price $2450
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Exceptional Russian Combo!
Large, crystal-clear Fluorite dodecahedron
perched between Green Quartz
(Hedenbergite included) and atop Calcite! The glassy Fluorite itself is pristine and very
lustrous, measuring nearly 4 cm across the front. A smaller sidecart crystal is incomplete
on the backside but this doesn't affect the large Fluorite. Most of the Green Quartz
crystals are terminated with the largest being doubly terminated. The Calcites near
the bottom add a nice touch to what is a very attractive specimen of bygone mining.
From Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia.
Measures 7.4 cm by 6 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Collection
Price $2500
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MIN#EM-34 NEW!
EXCEPTIONAL!!! Extraordinary cluster of Beryl var. Emerald crystals with Rutile!
Rarely does one fine such a large, aesthetic specimen of Emerald from North Carolina!
I've seen better specimens from the Rist Mine but they are all in museums or carry a
huge price tag. I was VERY fortunate to come across this specimen while in Tucson.
Not only is it aesthetic but it is dramatic. The crystals are all complete and either
terminated or rehealed on the terminations. There are no incomplete crystals here.
The fat Emerald crystal at the bottom sits on a small amount of Calcite matrix and
is accented by lustrous Rutiles around the base. It rises some 3.5 cm until it finds
an incredible 7 cm Emerald, which angles upwards and intersects with a smaller
3.3 cm Emerald which lends support to the entire arrangement. Both crystals are
incredibly smooth for a North Carolina specimen (usually etched) and are quite
gemmy with excellent color. The 7 cm crystal also has a facet-like termination
at top! There is one repair on the this crystal but it is literally invisible and I
challenge anyone to find it. I know where the crystal was professionally put back
together and even I can't see a line using a 10x loupe. Apparently the largest
Emerald naturally came apart in the pocket due to its size. This is a common
occurance with large gem crystals and in no way detracts from the specimen.
From the North American Emerald Mine (Rist Mine), Hiddenite,
North Carolina.
Measures 7.8 cm by 5.5 cm in total size.
Currently in the Kevin Ward Collection of American Classics
Price $28,500
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MIN#EM-35 SOLD!
MAJOR KONGSBERG SILVER!!
What a super aesthetic combination of Native Wire Silver growing atop Calcite crystals
with Acanthite! I can't remember the last time I've seen such an attractive example from
Kongsberg. At the base, you'll find two absolutely perfect rhombs of white Calcite with
sharp
crystals of gray Acanthite to the left. Situated in the middle is the "trunk" of
the Silver tree
which starts at a thickness of about 1 cm and winds it way upwards, branches and all, to a
height of nearly 10 cm! I describe the specimen as a tree because that's exactly what it
looks like to me! An old gnarly tree with two white boulders at the base of the trunk.
This specimen dates back to the 1800's and has a very impressive provenance. It also
hosts a perfect ring of wire Silver which moves freely up and down the main wire. The
ring is visible above at about 3 o'clock and is the trademark of this famous specimen.
From the Kongsberg Silver Mines, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway.
Measures 10.2 cm by 6 cm by 4.4 cm in size.
Ex. Swethelm (circa 1940-1950's), Eric Asselborn, Emmering
Collections
From the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $95,000
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MIN#EM-36 NEW!
EXCEPTIONAL! Tremendous plate featuring a
smoky-golden Cerussite crystal with Barite on matrix!
The Cerussite is perfectly terminated and measures nearly 6 cm in length. The orange
Barite blades
to the left are in excellent shape and contrast beautifully atop the sparkling Cerussite
matrix.
From Mibladen, Midelt, Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Morocco.
Measures 6.7 cm by 10 cm in size.
Ex. Gary R. Hansen Collection.
From the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $3850
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MIN#EM-37 NEW!
AMAZING SPECIMEN! Definately the best
Canadian Silver combo I found in Tucson!
Here you have stacked crystals of Acanthite ps.
after Argentite (Silver Sulfides) with Native
Silver wires in the front and right center! Obviously the Sulfur component was removed at
some point during the development of this specimen allowing for the Native Silver growth.
Specimens like this always amaze me. They are both beautiful and interesting in my
opinion (being a Silver specimen collector). From the Foster Mine, Glen Lake, Coleman
Township, near Cobalt, Ontario, Canada. Measures 8.4 cm by 7 cm by 7.8 cm in size.
I might point out that not only is this specimen Silver rich, it's also quite heavy!
Comes with a custom made, labeled stand.
Price $9500
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EXCEPTIONAL TOURMALINES with
LEPIDOLITE!!
A stunning specimen of multi-colored Tourmaline
crystals rising some 11.3 cm above a Lepidolite
covered base! The crystal surfaces are literally flawless with a glassy vibrance I rarely
see in
Tourmaline specimens. Both crystals are perfectly terminated with emerald-green tips that
evolve
into a bluish-green coloration which then changes over to a lighter green near the bottom.
The lower
portion of the actually becomes "watermelon" in that the interior is red while
the exterior is green.
The pinkish Lepidolite crystals are the perfect accent to this amazing, UNREPAIRED
Tourmaline!
Circa 2001 from the Rocket Pocket, Pederneira Mine, São
José da Safira, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Measures 11.3 cm by 2.5 cm in total size.
Price $25,000
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MIN#EM-39 NEW!
Hall of Fame Specimen!
EXCEPTIONAL!! Rounded crystals of
Rubellite Tourmaline on Quartz points!
Gorgeous specimen without any damage or contacts whatsoever to the terminations
of both points and all Tourmaline crystals. From the Mogok Stone Tract in Burma.
This is the finest Rubellite specimen I've seen from Burma! Measures 10 by 8.7 cm.
Comes with a custom made, labeled stand.
Ex. Edward E. David Collection.
Price $9500
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MIN#EM-40 NEW!
SUPERB! Incredibly sharp crystals of
Native Copper on Prehnite matrix!
Wow, this specimen really grabbed my attention. I love the combination with
Prehnite and the crystals of Copper are among the sharpest I've ever seen!
From Keweenaw County, Michigan.
Measures 3.7 cm by 3.2 cm in size.
Price $1500
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Gemmy, red rhombs of Rhodochrosite
with Fluorite, Sphalerite and Pyrite!
What an incredible Chinese Rhodochrosite! The rhombs
are slightly etched which
is normal but it doesn't detract from the transparency and translucence of these glassy
crystals! The color is some of the deepest red I've seen to date from China and very
impressive. If Chinese Rhodo gets much better, it will be the equal of the Sweet
Home!
From the Wuton (Wudong) Mine, Liubao, Wuzhou Prefecture,
Guangxi Zhuang A. R., China.
Measures 4.1 cm by 5 cm in size.
Price $1500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
EXCEPTIONAL SWEETWATER MINE COMBO!!
Without a doubt, this is the most incredible
Sweetwater Mine specimen I've ever seen
or owned! Honestly, I know of none better than this. I'm sure better specimens
exist but this
combination of large, mirror bright Galenas with a huge pristine, Elmwood-like Calcite
(perfectly
terminated) takes the prize for me. I'm not one who gets tremendously excited about
Sweetwater
specimens but this piece dazzled me when I found it and had many jaws dropping while on
display
in Tucson. Nearly everything about it is perfect and large, which makes the perfection
part even
harder to believe. Rarely does a specimen of this size survive intact without bumps and
bruises.
Even the Golden Calcite tip is perfect (and quite gemmy I might add). This is a true
centerpiece
and definately museum quality. If you can find a better Sweetwater piece, buy it on the
spot!
From the Sweetwater Mine, Ellington, Viburnum Trend,
Reynolds County, Missouri.
Measures 22.5 cm by 18.5 cm by 10.2 cm in size.
Currently in the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $24,500
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Exceptional combination of
Aegirine crystals with Smoky Quartz on Microcline!
Super aesthetic specimen featuring over half a
dozen terminated Aegirine crystals
rising upwards atop Microcline matrix. A perfect, doubly terminated Smoky Quartz
crystal lays horizontally in the foreground. This adds not only contrast, but depth
and eye appeal to what can easily be a somewhat unglamorous mineral. Very nice!
From Mt. Malosa, Zomba District, Malawi.
Measures 6.9 cm by 5.4 cm in size.
Comes with a labeled acrylic base.
Ex. Gabriel Risse Mineral Collection
Price $2450
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Stunning combination featuring a
gorgeous Scheelite with glassy Goshenites!
I love these combos but they've become very scarce
lately. I came across a small collection
during the Tucson show and this is one of the cutest of the lot! The Scheelite crystal
measures
3 cm and is bright orange and gemmy! The largest Beryl var. Goshenite measures 3.8 cm and
provides the perfect contrast as it frames the Scheelite. Several smaller Beryls
are scattered about.
From Mt. Xuebaoding, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province of
China.
Measures 7.2 cm by 6.7 cm in size.
Price $5850
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Mexican classic featuring Amethyst
crystals on Galena with Quartz drusy!
This specimen came from a small pocket found in
the 1960's in Naica, Mexico.
The Amethyst crystals sit atop a matrix of lustrous Galena with a scattering of
smaller Quartz points and drusy which adds further contrast to this very aesthetic
specimen. These classics rarely appear for sale and I purchase them whenever I see
them because the combination is so appealing. This is a rare
opportunity to land one.
From the Siglo XX Mine, Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Measures 9 cm by 7.9 cm in size.
Ex. Stoudt Mineral Collection
Price $2500
For More Exceptional Specimens, Click Here!
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