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Fine Mineral Specimens - Recently Sold
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Calcite with Orpiment - SOLD
Shimen Mine, Shimen Co., Hunan Prov., China
6.2 x 5.5 x 3.9 cm
– ex Smale Collection
MMY-1277 - This complex, well-formed calcite crystal has a thin coating of orpiment that gives the specimen its pleasing yellow color. The main crystal measures 2.5 cm and is quite transparent. The specimen displays even better than the photos show. Another wonder from China!
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Fluorite on Quartz - SOLD
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Hunan Prov., China
9.2 x 5.5 x 7.0 cm
MMY-1214 - This sculptural specimen from China looks like a backpacker climbing over rugged terrain. Quartz seams, covered with glistening quartz crystals host numerous lustrous fluorite crystals with purple cores. Displays well from multiple angles.
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Fluorite on Quartz "stalactite" - SOLD
Shangbao Pyrite Mine, Hunan Prov., China
9.0 x 4.3 x 3.5 cm
MMY-1278 - A spire of matrix, covered by quartz needles, hosts a lustrous fluorite crystal with zones of light green, purple, and blue. Complete all around.
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MMY-1230 - A wonder to hold in the hand and admire, this unique miniature features numerous, sharp fluorite crystals that are simply bursting with jamesonite needles. The faces of the fluorite are lustrous (on the display side...the back has lower luster due to inclusions). Note that what appears to be dirt on the quartz is actually a sprinkling of pyrite. The quartz also is included by jamesonite. Fascinating!
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Silver on matrix - SOLD
Dzhezkazgan Mine, Kazakhstan
7.4 x 4.6 x 2.7 cm
MMB-811 - Curling, interweaving wires of silver form an extremely attractive natural sculpture in this specimen from Kazakhstan. The silver has a fine golden-silver patina. The overall proportion of silver and matrix is quite ideal. Fabulous!
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Malachite with Mimetite - SOLD
Touissit, Oujda-Angad Prov., Morocco
3.5 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm
MMB-822 - Lustrous yellow sprays of mimetite adorn several unusually sharp malachite pseudomorphs after azurite in this very aesthetic thumbnail/small miniature from Touissit. Photographs do not do this piece justice. It is truly a competition-level specimen.
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Sulfur - SOLD
Agrigento Province, Sicily, Italy
4.9 x 2.9 x 2.0 cm
MMB-804 - With a screaming yellow color, this 2.5 cm sulfur crystal is a superb example of the elemental species. The piece is surprisingly gemmy and finely crystallized. The Sicilian sulfur deposits no longer produce, and fine examples such as this come mostly from old collections.
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Tourmaline - SOLD
Himalaya Mine, San Diego Co., California, USA
5.6 x 2.8 x 2.1 cm
MMB-785 - A very attractive, doubly-terminated tourmaline from the world-famous Himalaya Mine displays a lustrous pyramidal termination with a cranberry color followed by a vibrant pink color zone. Near the equally lustrous basal termination, the specimen has a light green, light pink, dark pink zonation. This area is particularly gemmy. There are no repairs.
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Galena with Calcite - SOLD
Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA
12.4 x 7.0 x 11.2 cm
MMB-817 - Several gemmy yellow calcite crystals provide pleasing contrast to the lustrous intergrown galena crystals in this large cabinet classic from the Sweetwater Mine. Note the juxtaposition of the cubic and octahedral habits. The back of the specimen is also crystallized (see the large photo by clicking on the left). What's not to like?
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Grossular Garnet - SOLD
Jeffrey Quarry, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
4.8 x 4.5 x 3.0 cm
MMB-783 - Accentuated by a black and white matrix,an isolated, sharp grossular crystal (1.7 cm) is accompanied by an arc of smaller crystals. Note the transparency of the crystals is so good that you can see the matrix clearly through the grossular. Clusters of smaller crystals with selective frosting perch on the larger crystals, adding an extra appeal to this piece.
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Benitoite - SOLD
Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito Co., California
2.8 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm
MMB-792 - Reminiscent of a stormy sea or an abstract painting, this benitoite thumbnail shows a complete crystal both front and back with good gemminess at the tips. The green inclusions add a bit of extra drama to the piece. A fine thumbnail!
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Pyrargyrite with Calcite - SOLD
Preoano Mine, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico
3.5 x 2.8 x 2.6 cm
– ex Sam Nasser Collection
MMB-757 - This LARGE, thick crystal of pyrargyrite simply glows with red when backlit, showing surprising transparency. Covering the termination are doubly-terminated calcites which are in turn covered by rhombs of an unknown reddish-orange mineral. This superb miniature shows no damage and is just a smokin' piece for the species.
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Grossular Garnet - SOLD
Jeffrey Quarry, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
4.5 x 3.0 x 2.0 cm
MMB-762 - A rich orange, highly transparent "jewel" of a grossular crystal (1.7 cm) lies isolated on a contrasting dark matrix in this lovely specimen from the acclaimed Jeffrey Quarry in Quebec. Two smaller crystals with a different habit show characteristic striations and bevelled edges surrounding diamond faces.
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Mimetite - SOLD
Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
3.4 x 1.7 x 0.7 cm
MMB-771 - This classic thumbnail from Tsumeb features several orange-yellow mimetite crystals with gemmy tips. The largest, doubly-terminated crystal measures 2.7 cm. Mimetite specimens from Tsumeb are very rare and difficult to acquire. This fine thumbnail would make a fine addition to any thumbnail collection or Tsumeb suite.
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Malachite - SOLD
Planet Mine, Santa Maria Dist., La Paz, Arizona
6.4 x 4.1 x 5.5 cm
– ex George Robinson Collection
MMB-768 - Botryoidal, turquoise green malachite richly covers the surface of this fine specimen...old material from the Planet Mine in Arizona.
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Stibnite - SOLD
Baia Sprie, Maramures County, Romania
7.0 x 7.2 x 4.7 cm
MMB-760 - A dramatic spray of acicular stibnite crystals from Romania crowns the top of a matrix covered with siderite. Numerous siderite rhombs are sprinkled throughout the stibnite blades. Equally impressive from all angles. Specimens of this quality from this classic European locality are very seldomly seen.
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