The Tucson-Houston Show 2009 Mineral Rooms!
Re-Updated January 4th, 2010
 Photo by Joe Budd |
Stunning combination of Amazonite
crystals with Smoky Quartz and Albite!
One of the finest Amazonite-Smoky combos I've seen
in a long time. Not only is the specimen
large in size, the color of the Amazonite crystals is every bit as deep as those from the
Tree Root
find. The crystals of both minerals are large and well formed and the overall arrangement
has to be
one of the most aesthetic I've seen in years. This large plate has the balance and
artistic qualities
that all collectors look for in the finest of specimens. There are the usual
repairs and restoration
common to Amazonite-Smoky but they are so expertly done that they are virtually invisible.
Considering the pocket conditions in which these specimens are found, it's always amazing
to me just how beautifully they're put back together. Even the Smoky points on this
specimen
are complete and terminated with only the most minor of bumps here and these along the
edges.
From Sentinel Rock, El Paso County, Colorado.
Measures 8.6 cm by 12.8 cm by 8.5 cm in size.
Price $27,500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
MIN#Tucson2009-162 NEW!
Lustrous and quite rare Native Silver Wire
rising up from a matrix vug!
I can tell you right now that I seldom see good matrix wire Silvers from China. This
specimen
leaped out when I saw it in Tucson and I had the matrix trimmed even further to more
centralize
the wire. The wire itself is pretty big, measuring just shy of 5.5 cm from base to tip! I
love the way
it does an "S" curve bend as it pulls away from the Calcite and Acanthite coated
vug and rises
upwards, well above the matrix. The wire is very lustrous with a golden patina and very
attractive.
From Lingqiu County, Datong Prefecture, Shanxi Province of
China.
Measures 7.8 cm by 5.7 cm in size.
Currently in the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Comes complete with a custom made, labeled base
Price $7500
 Photo by Joe Budd |
Impressive plate of botryoidal Azurite
on matrix from Morenci!
This is old material! I don't see plates of this
quality coming from Morenci anymore and
as you might expect, I found this specimen in an older collection which was for sale in
Tucson.
The Azurite surfaces range from a sparkling drusy near the edges to fine velvet over most
of the
interior. Beneath the Azurite is a thin layer of green Malachite which adds a nice color
contrast.
The matrix is a loose conglomerate which has been cemented together by Azurite and
Malachite
seams. A specimen of this quality from Bisbee would bring big money. Morenci has not quite
achieved the same status but its time is coming and specimens of this caliber are helping.
From the Morenci Mine, Morenci, Greenlee County, Arizona.
Measures 9.8 cm by 12.1 cm by 5.5 cm in size.
Ex. Marvin Rausch Mineral Collection
Price $4500
 |
Flashy surfaces of Smoky Quartz
on Feldspar with reddish-orange Spessartine Garnet!
Superb specimen with dozens of Garnets and
gemmy Smoky points! The color of the
Garnets is a bit redder than usual and the crystal faces are super glassy and reflective.
From the Wushan Spessartine Mine, Tongbei, Fujian Province
of China.
Measures 12 cm by 6.8 cm in size.
Price $985
 |
Fine specimen of crystalline Native
Gold on Quartz matrix!
Dodecahedrons
and trigons are everywhere on this specimen. The Gold above the Quartz
matrix is basically all crystalline and there must be hundreds of crystals in the
mix. The specimen is
heavy at 50.4 grams (a little shy of two ounces) and priced very reasonably considering
gold value.
From the Eagle's Nest Mine, Placer County, California.
Measures 5.5 cm by 4 cm in size.
Price $3250
 |
Fine combination of Manganoan Calcite,
Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite and Galena crystals on Quartz!
I actually thought this was Rhodochrosite when I
first saw the piece because so many Rhodos
from Bulgaria are of this color. It's actually Manganoan Calcite and what a beautiful
combination
it makes with the lustrous Chalcopyrite crystals and gray Galena cubes (modified of
course).
From the Osikovo Mine, Madan District, Southern Rhodope
Mountains, Bulgaria.
Measures 5 cm by 5.7 cm in size.
Price $225
 Photo by Joe Budd |
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. This
specimen is
a cluster of glassy, doubly terminated crystals with no real point of attachment. Could
this
specimen be a floater? Perhaps. I only see a small bit of attached matrix but not enough
to
call it the remains of a host rock. The yellowish Sulfur inclusions are also quite visible
just
beneath the translucent surfaces. 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 12 cm by 5.8 cm in size.
Price $1850
 |
Large cabinet plate of Quartz var.
Amethyst with Quartz!
Glassy, lustrous, and flashy, this specimen has more
than its fair share of eye appeal!
The Amethyst crystals are very gemmy with a bright purple coloration. They sit atop
smaller
crystals of milky-white Quartz which are then in turn accented by brown Calcite and
Muscovite
inclusions. A large plate from a good locality that would make a great centerpiece in any
collection.
I believe this pocket was a one time only find from a kids summer camp of all places!
From Camp Encore, Sweden, Oxford County, Maine.
Measures 19.5 cm by 17 cm in size.
Price $1250
 |
Beautiful cluster of terminated
Celestite crystals in cluster atop Sulfur!
Superb specimen featuring gemmy to translucent
crystals of Golden Celestite
on a matrix of light yellow Sulfur and glassy Sulfur crystals. Very beautiful combo!
From the Machow Mine, Tarnobrzeg, Podkarpackie, Poland.
Measures 6.5 cm by 5.8 cm by 5.2 cm in size.
Ex. Dirk Rheinlander Collection
Price $2250
 Photo by Joe Budd |
Beautiful Tourmaline var. Indicolite
crystals perched atop Quartz crystals!
The Tourmaline actually stretches down the entire
backside, measuring 6 cm in length.
It's also quite thick, measuring nearly 4 cm at the base and 3 cm across the top. A good
portion of the crystal is a dark blue with the top being a vibrant gem blue! The Quartz
crystals could best be described as smoky and both are terminated atop Albite matrix.
From Paprok, Nuristan Province of Afghanistan.
Measures 6 cm by 6 cm in size.
Price $3500
 |
Glowing crystal of Golden Spodumene
sitting atop a Quartz!
This doubly terminated crystal screams with color! It's got to be
one of the deepest colored Triphane
specimens I've ever seen. The crystal sits atop a terminated Quartz crystal at bottom
center and
is super gemmy and bright with very glassy surfaces. Every single crystal striation is
distinct!
From Pech, Nuristan, Kunar Province of Afghanistan.
Measures 6.8 cm by 8 cm by 3.3 cm.
Price $3500
 |
Sharp, lustrous crystals of Native
Copper atop host rock!
One of the prettiest small miniature Copper you'll
ever see. The crystals are
very sharp and distinct with a gorgeous reddish-copper luster. Circa 1850's!
From the St. Clair Vein, St. Clair Mining Co., Lake
Superior
Copper District, Keweenaw County, Michigan.
Measures 3.6 cm by 2.8 cm in size.
Ex. Ross C. Lillie Collection
Price $585
 |
Fluorite cubes snuggled between Barite
blades and Quartz matrix!
Very pretty combination of purple Fluorite with
Barite. Both are accented by Quartz xl matrix.
From the Berbes Mine, Berbes, Asturias, Spain.
Measures 6 cm by 5.5 cm in size.
Price $125
 |
NEW and VERY RARE!!! Gemmy Golden
Topaz perched alongside a Quartz cluster!
This is the finest Topaz on Quartz in existance from
this obscure locality! A small find of Golden
Topaz crystals were found last year during a trip to Argentina and the few specimens that
were brought
back appeared at the Tucson Show. The trip and discovery are written about in The Mineralogical Record,
Jan-Feb 2009, Volume 40, Issue Number 1. Most of the find consisted of jaggedly
etched gem Topaz
crystals that were loose in the pocket. Only two or three specimens featured the Topaz on
Quartz matrix
and this is the finest of those. There is no better matrix specimen from this locality
anywhere - one of
the few times I can actually make that claim. I was attracted to this specimen because I
prefer Topaz
on matrix and I loved the aesthetic display. The fact that all three Quartz points were
terminated and
the golden Topaz had a smooth glassy termination instead of the jagged etched terminations
that were
common to this find wasn't lost on me either. The Topaz is super gemmy with an internal
glow that is
captured in the photograph above. While the top termination is smooth, the bottom
termination (yes,
the Topaz is doubly terminated!) is etched and slightly jagged like the other crystals in
the pocket.
I believe it is this feature that causes the light to bounce around and reflect inside the
crystal, giving
it the golden glow. The Quartz crystals are also gemmy with a very light and attractive
misting on
the exterior faces, probably the result of a slight etching. The Topaz measures 3 cm by
3.4 cm.
From El Chalten, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina.
Measures 8 cm by 7.8 cm by 7.7 cm in size.
Currently in the Kevin Ward Personal Collection
Price $7500
 |
Baby-blue Barite clusters with golden
Calcite on Fluorite!
I don't see too many of these blue Barite combos
from Illinois so this was a nice
find in Tucson. The Barite crystals are in excellent condition with glassy surfaces.
From the Annabel Lee Mine, Hardin County, Illinois.
Measures 7.2 cm by 6.4 cm in size.
Price $225
 |
Fine wires of Native Gold on Quartz
with Sphalerite and Galena!
The color of the gold is richer than normal
indicating a lower content of Silver while
some of the wires almost appear to be reddish. This could be a coating or an indicator
of a Copper component in the Gold ratio. Whatever the case, the specimen is very
fine!
From Rosia Montană (Verespatak), Alba County, Romania.
Measures 3.9 cm by 4.5 cm in size.
Price $685
 |
Impressive combination plate of
Azurite nodules with chatoyant Malachite!
Even the faintest light rolls across the surface of
the incredible lustrous Azurite crystal clusters!
The Malachite frames the Azurite on both sides and is composed of thousands of small
crystals,
also in cluster. Both minerals sit atop a matrix of solid Malachite and what appears to be
sandstone.
From the Bou Bekker Mine, near Touissit, Oujda-Angad
Province, Morocco.
Measures 12 cm by 15.5 cm in size.
Ex. Edward David Mineral Collection
Comes with an acrylic base for display
Price $2850
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