The Tucson-Houston Show 2009 Mineral Rooms!
Re-Updated January 4th, 2010
 Photo by Joe Budd |
EXCEPTIONAL!! Gemmy Beryl var.
Heliodor (Yellowish-Green Beryl) on Quartz matrix!
Definately the finest Massachusetts Beryl I've seen
in many years! This glassy crystal
is doubly terminated and measures 4 cm in length by 1.7 cm in width! I'm calling it a
Heliodor although it does tilt towards the greener side of the Heliodor scale. The matrix
is a grainy Quartz which provides the perfect contrast to the Beryl in both color and
surface texture. The provenance with this specimen dates back to 1949 but it's possible
that the specimen is even older. Beryls of this quality from the east coast are very rare.
From South Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Measures 6.8 by 6.6 cm by 4.1 cm in size.
Ex. Johansson (1949), Marvin Rausch Mineral Collections
Currently in the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $6500
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Cabinet sized specimen of lustrous
blue Gibbsite with Doyleite!
Gibbsite is a rare aluminum hydroxide species
which almost never appears for sale at the shows.
Doyleite is an equally as rare polymorph of Gibbsite. Both species are present on this
impressive plate.
This specimen was part of a small find in China some years ago (2006). The surfaces are
botryoidal with
a lustrous, greasy sheen. This is the largest plate I've seen to date and it's also in
excellent shape!
From the Baoshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China.
Measures 12.8 cm by 23 cm by 9.4 cm in size.
Price $1850
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Glassy and quite flashy cluster of
purple Creedite crystals!
One of the better Creedite clusters I've seen in a
while! The crystals number in the hundreds
and nearly all are gemmy and terminated. A small amount of orange has worked its way into
what
is mainly a purple cluster but I really like the color accenting. The bottom of the
cluster appears
cast-like with a concave opening. This also gives a rounded appearance to the Creedite
surface.
From Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Measures 9 cm by 6.4 cm by 4.6 cm in size.
Price $3450
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MIN#Tucson2009-184 NEW!
Extraordinary, large hoppered crystal
of reddish-orange Vanadinite!
One of the more unique specimens I brought home from
the Tucson Show!
This hoppered crystal grew so quickly that it literally stretched out in length
as dozens of crystal faces and terminations formed along the central axis. The
two photos above show the front and back side, both of which are very lustrous.
From Mibladen, Midelt, Meknčs-Tafilalet Region, Morocco.
Measures 6.2 cm by 5.2 cm in size.
Ex. Matthew Webb Collection
Price $3850
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Exceptional, large cabinet specimen
featuring a huge bi-color Fluorite crystal atop Muscovite!
This is one impressive Fluorite specimen! The bi-color
Fluorite measures 10.5 cm by 9.8 cm in
size, and the color isn't pale either! The pink color which radiates from the backside of
the
crystal is a vibrant rosey-red. The green which begins near the crystal's center is
slightly less
intense but still much stronger than usual. The crystal itself is nearly perfect
save for some
incompleteness on the backside where it was separated from the host matrix. This left an
area of cleavage, but if not for this, the crystal would be stuck against a rocky matrix
and far
less transparent. I think the trade off was a good one and in the best interest of the
specimen.
From Chumar Bakhoor, Nagar, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Measures 16 cm by 14 cm by 11.4 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Mineral Collection
Comes with an engraved acrylic stand for
display
Price $12,500
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Rare combination of Native Copper
crystals and reddish Cuprite crystals on matrix!
This is one interesting Copper specimen!
Rarely do crystals of Native Copper appear
so isolated and similar in size to their Cuprite counterparts. It almost appears as if the
Copper has pseudomorphed the Cuprite crystal clusters or vice versa because when you
loupe the piece, you can see a distinct similarity between the two. Also, some of the
Cuprite clusters have Copper as part of the formation. Whatever the case, this is
a unique and very attractive old-timer from the bygone mining days (Circa 1880's)
of Bisbee. I should also point out that a bluish-green mineral is present beneath the
crystals. Whether this is Malachite, Chalcoalumite or Chrysocolla is anyone's guess.
From the Copper Queen Mine, Warren District, Bisbee,
Cochise County, Arizona.
Measures 5.8 cm by 6.4 cm by 5 cm in size.
Ex. Martin Zinn, Evan Jones Mineral Collections
Price $1500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
Superb miniature featuring a cluster of Schorl
crystal on Albite with a Beryl var. Goshenite!
I call this gemmy 2.1 cm crystal a Goshenite because it is nearly colorless but some might
call it an Aquamarine due to a very slight hint of blue. It sits atop atop both the Schorl
and Albite and to the right of a perfectly terminated cluster of Schorl Tourmaline.
The Beryl habit is a more tabular hexagonal with glassy faces and matted edges.
From Shigar, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas of
Pakistan.
Measures 4 cm by 6.4 cm by 4.4 cm in size.
Ex. Gabriel Risse Mineral Collection
Comes with a labeled acrylic base
Price $1500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
Amazing specimen featuring a large 1
inch Native Silver spinel on Calcite!
There are numerous spinel twins scattered all over
the white Calcitic matrix. This is one
of the most impressive Batopilas Silvers I've seen or owned and I'm happy to be able to
offer it in this update. The entire specimen is crystalline with a beautiful antiquish
patina.
From Batopilas, Andres del Rio District, Mun. de Batopilas,
Chihuahua, Mexico.
Measures 6 cm by 4.9 cm in size.
Ex. Richard Heck, Bergmann Mineral Collections
Currently in the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $6500
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Etched Fluorite crystal with attached
Barite cluster!
I love these unique looking Elmwood Fluorites. The
top faces are complete
and glassy while the remainder of the crystal was naturally etched and then
rehealed. The attached Barite makes for a wonderful contrast on both sides.
From the Elmwood Mine, Smith County, Tennessee.
Measures 5.9 cm by 4.3 cm in size.
Price $125
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Gemmy purple Fluorite cube with
iridescent Chalcopyrite and Quartz!
Super combination piece, featuring a 1.5 cm
Fluorite cube which is quite large and colorful
for the locality. Surrounding the cube are iridescent Chalcopyrites, Quartz, and what
appears to be white Barite blades. The surface of the specimen is both lustrous and
flashy.
From the Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Maramures, Romania.
Measures 7.4 cm by 8.5 cm in size.
Price $685
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Blue Azurite crystal spheres
with smaller green Malachite balls on matrix!
Superb combination plate from the Morenci Mine!
There must be a couple dozen of these
blue crystal spheres and the smaller Malachite balls really balance the overall
appearance.
From the Morenci Copper Mine, Morenci, Greenlee County,
Arizona.
Measures 6 cm by 14.6 cm by 5.8 cm in size.
Price $750
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Dogtooth Calcite crystals in
cluster with Malachite coated Chalcopyrite and Covellite!
Superb combination and the first Covellite
specimen I've seen from this locality! The Calcite
crystals are all perfectly terminated with a coating of small iridescent Covellite blades!
Some
of the Covellite blades have actually been overgrown by the Calcite and are now inclusions
inside the larger crystals, creating a dazzling affect. The Chalcopyrite crystals appear
to
have been coated by a thin layer of iridescent Bornite which was then covered by
Malachite.
All in all, this is a really neat Calcite specimen which I could look at for hours with a
loupe.
From Huangshi Prefecture, Hubei Province, China.
Measures 12.4 cm by 8 cm by 5 cm in size.
Price $650
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Fine specimen featuring Native Copper
wires on Prehnite and Quartz!
Native Copper wire specimens from Michigan are
anything but common and I acquire
every specimen I see. I found two while in Tucson and both are available here in this
update.
From the Osceola Mine, Lake Superior Copper District,
Houghton County, Michigan.
Measures 4 cm by 4.4 cm in size.
Price $285
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Pseudomorph! Sharp crystals of Native
Copper ps. after Cuprite!
The crystal habit is obviously Cuprite but the
Native Copper has completely
replaced the original mineral! A unique and very attractive pseudomorph!
From the Itauz Mine, Dzheskazgan, Kazakhstan.
Measures 5 cm by 3 cm in size.
Price $385
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Fine specimen featuring Native Copper
wires on Prehnite and Quartz!
Native Copper wire specimens from Michigan are
anything but common and I acquire
every specimen I see. I found two while in Tucson and both are available here in this
update.
From the Osceola Mine, Lake Superior Copper District,
Houghton County, Michigan.
Measures 5.4 cm by 4 cm in size.
Price $450
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Fine, satiny Malachite on porous
(volcanic?) matrix from Bisbee!
Classic specimen of fibrouse primary Malachite on
matrix with an excellent
provenance. This specimen is circa 1890's from the famous Copper Queen Mine!
From the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County,
Arizona.
Measures 9 cm by 7.8 cm in size.
Ex. Carl Bentley Mineral Collection
Comes with an original Schortmann's label from the
1960's
Price $545
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MIN#Tucson2009-197 NEW!
Awesome Benitoite crystal on
Natrolite with Neptunite and Joaquinite!
From the Benitoite Gem Mine in San Benito County,
California.
Measures 3 cm by 2.3 cm with a 1.6 cm Benny crystal.
Price $685
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MIN#Tucson2009-198 NEW!
Aesthetic specimen of shiny Pyrrhotite on tan Quartz crystals!
Beautiful and lustrous 3.4 rossette! From the Nikolaevsky Mine, Primorskiy Kray, Russia.
Measures 7 cm by 5 cm with Calcites as well!
Ex. Martin Zinn collection.
Price $1500
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MIN#Tucson2009-199 NEW!
Impressive specimen featuring a large,
terminated crystal of deep red Rhodonite atop Galena!
The Rhodonite crystal is complete on top with scattered inclusions of Galena here and
there
and larger crystals of Galena attached to the left side. It's translucent at top with
gemmy portions
that measure 5.3 cm from translucent base to tip and 9.3 cm in total length if you include
the more
opaque portion of the Rhodonite. Definately one of the largest crystals of Rhodonite I've
offered.
From the North Mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
Measures 9.3 cm by 5.5 cm in size.
Ex. William Hiss Collection
Price $985
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MIN#Tucson2009-200 NEW!
Exceptional! Nearly pristine specimen of
Vanadinite crystals atop matrix!
I see so many of these specimens with dull surfaces and missing or broken crystals,
that I have to do a double take when I see one that's as good as this one is. The
aesthetic display speaks for itself but the flashy, lustrous surfaces of each reddish-
orange crystal is gorgeous. Also, there's literally no damage anywhere on the entire
specimen. I've looked this piece over many times and can't find a broken crystal.
From Mibladen, Meknes-Tafilalet Region, Morocco.
Measures 5.7 cm by 7.8 cm in size.
Ex. Martin Zinn Collection
Price $5450
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